A new 23-home housing development, where we have been providing Civil and Structural Engineering support, is nearing completion. Manor Green, located in the South Norfolk village of Hales, has been hailed a Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) success. The SuDS has been designed and approved through the Section 38 process to the satisfaction of Norfolk County Council Highways and LLFA Departments.
What are SuDS?
SuDS are a solution within construction to allow natural drainage and encourage infiltration of surface water to help prevent flooding and pollution risks that can arise from urban run-off.
Often swales and filter strips are incorporated in SuDS design which can be covered by grass or other natural coverings such as wildflowers to allow for an eco-friendly solution. The filter strips remove silt found within the water before it reaches the swale to prevent it from clogging up. Swales are shallow channels that allow for water to be collected before it filters through to the ground underneath.
SuDS at Manor Green
At Manor Green, we opted for filter strips and swales covered by grass along the edge of the paving to enable water on the highways to be naturally filtered away. The surface water, once captured within these swales, then either absorbs naturally into the surrounding ground or down into a perforated pipe. The pipe then directs the remaining water into two soakaways within the housing development.
The Future of Sustainable Drainage
SuDS is a sustainable drainage solution which moves away from the traditional approach, that would generally have surface water run-off going through underground pipes and into large storage tanks.
SuDS offers significant advantages over conventional pipe drainage systems. Flood risk is reduced by attenuating the rate and quantity of surface water run-off from a site, which therefore promotes groundwater recharge and improves water quality and amenity.
Planning Policy requires all future housing developments to incorporate SuDS within their plans to help tackle the effects of climate change and to protect our environment.
It is widely recognised that there is a skills shortage within engineering which includes Civil and Structural Engineering. With National Careers Week returning this week, we wanted to take the opportunity to help inspire and encourage the future working generation that engineering is a fantastic career choice.
National Careers Week is a non-for-profit initiative which this year runs from 4th–9th March. It is a dedicated week helping to support young people who are finding their way into the working world.
We caught-up with our latest Graduate Structural Engineer, Jake Ashley-Locke who is now five months into his role. Fresh out of university, he is perfectly placed to talk about his education experience and how he achieved his first step into the world of Structural Engineering.
What made you decide on a career in Civil and Structural Engineering?
I enjoyed Physics and Maths at school, but not to the extent that I wanted to go study either subject purely on their own. So, it was a case of finding something that integrated elements of the two, and engineering was a clear choice. I ended up looking through a list of different engineering disciplines and Civil Engineering jumped out and looked the most interesting to me. It’s also completely global, so opens up all sorts of opportunities to live/work wherever.
What further education did you undertake prior to joining Rossi Long Consulting?
After school, I studied for an Integrated Masters in Civil Engineering at the University of Bristol.
How do you think your further education has helped you gain a career within Structural Engineering?
There’s the learning of the fundamental technical stuff which is obviously pretty important for design, but also having the opportunity to work on fictional projects with groups of other students which was really helpful for transitioning into a workplace.
Would you recommend your path of education?
Absolutely! I’d really recommend it if you’re interested in Civil/Structural Engineering design. In a sector as highly regulated as construction, I’d have thought you’d have quite a difficult time getting your foot in the door of a company without the qualifications and base knowledge. Plus, university is fun, a great way to meet new people and provides so many life skills as well.
What types of projects are you working on at Rossi Long Consulting?
I’m involved with all sorts of projects covering a range of sectors from housing to healthcare, which is nice as the variety keeps things interesting and means I’m always learning something new. In just the past five months I’ve gained experience working with all the main construction materials and a whole jumble of different structural forms.
How have you found the past five months since you joined the company?
It’s been fun overall, although it is pretty odd studying something for four years and then going into the workplace and feeling completely useless at the start! That said, you can pick things up pretty quickly which is quite pleasing. It has massively helped that everyone is lovely, and always willing to give me a hand if I need it.
What has been your highlight since joining Rossi Long Consulting?
The Christmas party!!
Has working in the industry and the working world been what you expected?
Yes, I guess so. I’ve especially enjoyed the amount of co-working that is involved; be that with clients, contractors or colleagues
Where would you like to see your career progressing over the next five years?
I’m trying to figure that out for myself! The most important thing for me is that I want to enjoy what I do, and for the moment I’m achieving that, so all is well. One thing I can say though, is that I definitely believe that if you’re going to do something you may as well put the effort in to be good at it, so wherever I end up I want to be as good at the role as I can be.
Any advice to those wishing to pursue a career in Civil or Structural Engineering?
Make the most of the opportunities that come your way, whether it’s through work experience, apprenticeships or education. Everyone is crying out for competent employees so you’ll get snapped up as long as you show dedication and put the work in.
Visit our careers page to find out more about our latest vacancies.
As we approach the end of 2023, our Director, Rob Scholes, reflects on the past year, its successes and future plans for Rossi Long.
How would you describe Rossi Long’s year?
It has certainly been a successful year for the company. We started 2023 being very busy on many different projects and the year has ended much the same.
We were proud to be recognised in several award categories, both alone and in conjunction with our clients, and were delighted to receive the Norfolk Constructing Excellence Award for Project of the Year and Excellence in Innovation for the conservation of National Trust’s Oxburgh Hall.
The year has seen several members of staff celebrating success within their qualifications leading to promotions – we’re extremely proud of their hard work and dedication to their careers.
We have also had a few new faces join the Rossi Long family. This has helped expand our capability to support additional projects, particularly within Building Surveying where the team has grown.
What has been the greatest achievements for Rossi Long in 2023?
We have achieved a lot over the last 12 months, so it is hard to pinpoint one exact achievement. Receiving positive feedback from our clients and knowing we are meeting their needs is high on the list as well as being shortlisted for and winning several industry awards.
We have also been successful on winning three frameworks this year for the University of East Anglia, Cambridge University and NHS Shared Business Services and we look forward to the opportunities these bring in the new year.
Was there any stand out moments this year?
It is hard to choose, but a few which spring to mind are seeing the completion of the much-anticipated Pricilla Bacon Lodge and its official opening by King Charles, being able to support the NHS and healthcare projects in their growth and expansion to aid local communities and seeing the residential development Carrow Quarter completed which has been in the making for ten years. We were involved from the start with planning and have supported the project throughout t
he design and the five-year construction phase, so it has been brilliant to see this one over the line.
We have also enjoyed some fantastic social events this year which have given the team some time to relax and get to know each other outside of the office. Paddleboarding on the Broads has been my particular highlight!
What are the biggest challenges for the business and the industry in 2024?
One challenge that we are already planning for is the introduction of the new Building Safety Act which means there will be new responsibilities for duty holders. As an industry, and as a company, we will need to embrace and adapt to these additional requirements.
Ensuring we continue to meet our targets to develop sustainable designs will also be at the forefront of our minds. Our team will be working closely with our clients to share our knowledge and provide innovative solutions for low carbon design options. We will also help inform the stakeholders of methods to reduce embodied carbon, produce designs which are compatible with low energy operation and construction and that maintain good value.
Our Planning and Civil Engineering team continue to face challenges associated with changes to planning policy and compliance with the Four Pillars of SuDS. We pride ourselves on achieving a very good success rate for our clients by developing stronger relationships with the various consultees.
We are all now very familiar with the term ‘Nutrient Neutrality’ (NN) which has resulted in a significant decline on the number of dwellings constructed since March 2022. NN continues to impact the industry but there now appears to be light at the end of a very long tunnel which we all hope will kick-start the local housing industry in 2024.
What are the plans for Rossi Long in 2024?
One of our biggest plans for the new year is focusing on reducing our carbon emissions. We have already been looking at our energy consumption and are in the advanced stages of having solar PV panels installed at the office. These will be capable of supplying a large proportion of our energy demand, helping us take steps towards our 2030 NZC target.
Rossi Long Consulting is delighted to announce we have been appointed to provide Civil and Structural Engineering Design Services on the University of Cambridge Estates Division’s new Consultant Framework.
As one of the world’s oldest Universities, the estate consists of a variety of building types from Grade 1 listed buildings to state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities, museums to a farm, and a botanical garden.
Our team of skilled Engineers has extensive experience in providing innovative engineering to suit varying types of construction requirements from conservation projects to new build developments. We are also well-versed in refurbishment projects for existing buildings with listed building restrictions.
Discussing the appointment, our Technical Director Oliver Edwards commented; “We are delighted to have been selected onto the framework. Having worked on a number of award-winning projects across both the Further Education and Conservation sectors, we are confident in our ability to meet the needs of each individual project. We have a highly collaborative partnership with our clients and look forward to working with the Estates Division team to deliver future projects.”
Find out more about our previous experience within the Education Sector.
Rossi Long Consulting has been appointed as a supplier on the University of East Anglia (UEA) Estates Division Capital and Minor Works Consultant Framework, for Lot 5 Civil and Structural Engineering Consultancy Services. The Framework spans a three-year lifespan, with the opportunity to extend for an additional year.
Our extensive experience of working within the Education sector has confirmed our ability to successfully deliver projects for the UEA. We have undertaken previous projects across the whole sector, ranging from nursery and primary schools to higher and further education.
Located in 320 acres of rolling parkland, the UEA provides top-quality academic, social and cultural facilities to students and staff and has been ranked 26th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. With over 17,000 students studying on-site, our engineering expertise will take into consideration the constraints of working on a live site and term times.
In October 2003, buildings at the heart of the University campus were registered with Grade II and Grade II* listed status. Our experience within the conservation sector and our appreciation of the engineering practices needed for historic buildings will ensure projects for the UEA will be delivered with full consideration.
On the appointment, Rossi Long Consulting’s Technical Director Oliver Edwards commented; “Being part of the Framework identifies us as one of the top Civil and Structural Engineering Consultants in the Eastern region. We are delighted to have been accepted onto the framework and look forward to the opportunities provided by the UEA. As an internationally renowned university, steeped in history, it will be a privilege for our Civil and Structural Engineers to work on the estate.”
Find out more about our previous experience within the Education Sector.
Rossi Long Consulting has been named as a supplier on the NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) framework agreement for Healthcare Planning, Construction Consultancy and Ancillary Services (SBS 10190) for Lot 3 Civil and Structural Engineering.
The four-year framework offers a compliant route for our clients within the NHS and public sector organisations to access our Civil and Structural Engineering services. Rossi Long has extensive experience working throughout the healthcare sector including building projects within the acute care and community hospitals, GP practices, hospices and recently as part of the community diagnostic centre programme.
On the appointment, our Technical Director Oliver Edwards commented; “we’re extremely proud to have been appointed onto this framework that recognises our teams’ skills and breadth of experience within the healthcare sector. Having worked on a wide range of healthcare projects across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, the framework will enable us to continue to build upon our previous successes. We look forward to providing innovative and sustainable design solutions for future healthcare projects within the Eastern region.”
As proud members of the NHS family, NHS SBS is the country’s leading supplier of corporate services to the NHS, and manages over 40 framework agreements covering a wide range of clinical and corporate goods and services.
NHS SBS was created in 2004 by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to deliver corporate services to the NHS. A unique joint venture with Sopra Steria, a European leader in digital services and software development, it makes life easier for NHS employees, patients and suppliers, and delivers value for money to the taxpayer.
Full details about the framework agreement can be found on the NHS SBS website.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust’s Colchester Hospital’s new orthopaedic centre is currently under construction, and will provide new operating theatres, wards and plant rooms. The new diagnostic centre will, once finished, create an internal floor space of 8300 sqm.
To allow for a fast build, the new hospital will be built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), alongside traditional methods. The modular units are built off-site and craned into position to create the three-storey medical centre. Around 300 modules are being used within the build.
Working with MTX Contracts and Arcadis IBI, we have been responsible for Civil and Structural Engineering of the drainage, foundations and temporary works.
On the project our direct Rob Scholes commented; “it’s great to see this project come to life. The use of MMC is a really useful construction method for being able to be make things happen fast which is much needed when building for hospitals. Since Covid we’ve seen an increase in the use of this form of construction as the need for more hospital space is a priority. We’re proud to have been a part of this project that will help the local community with their future healthcare needs.”
Visit our project page to find out more.
Images courtesy of MTX Contracts
Priscilla Bacon Lodge has provided vital end-of-life care for cancer patients and their families for over 40 years from their Colman Road site in Norwich.
We are delighted to see the recent opening of their new state-of-the-art palliative care unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, which will provide much-needed care for people with terminal or life-limiting illnesses.
We provided Civil and Structural support on the project following a carefully considered option appraisal of various construction methods and materials. The final scheme adopted a hybrid design.
The daycare centre and well-being unit comprise a two-storey steel structure with precast concrete upper floor. The linked inpatient unit is a traditional loadbearing masonry single storey wing with a gangnailed trussed rafter roof.
The project has been a real community effort over the four years, with a fundraising target of £12.5M to complete the construction. The facility is located within a landscaped setting adjacent to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital campus and provides accommodation for 24 inpatient beds, daycare facilities, a wellness centre, and a physio studio.
Find out more about what we did for the project.
We were delighted to attend the Norfolk Constructing Excellence awards this year where we won two awards for our work on the National Trust owned Oxburgh Hall. It was a privilege to receive awards for Project of the Year and Excellence in Innovation.
The awards were testament to the amount of hard work and brilliance which surrounds us in this industry. It was an absolute delight to see so many projects that we have supported with our civil and structural engineering services recognised for their own achievements.
We also worked on two further projects that won awards including:
Residential Project of the Year was won by RG Carter for their work on the Canary Quay project. A well-deserved award for the delivery of 323 apartments on the River Wensum in the city centre. Rossi Long were involved in this development for over 10 years initially supporting the client with essential strategic pre-planning services and subsequently the civil and structural engineering consultancy services for the development.
Excellence in Collaboration was also won by RG Carter for their work on Swallowtail Place in Acle. The re-development of existing land has provided a 58-apartment living scheme situated between Norwich and Great Yarmouth for the over 55’s. The scheme empowers older people to continue to live independently and has built a community within a community. The apartments consist of one- and two-bedroom self-contained homes with communal spaces. Allowing residents to live independently but with the added reassurance of a care team on site at all times. Rossi Long worked collaboratively with Saffron Housing and RG Carter providing civil and structural engineering services from the early stages of conception through to project completion.
We are absolutely delighted to have received TWO awards at the Norfolk Constructing Excellence Awards 2023 for our work with the National Trust on their iconic Grade I Listed building ‘Oxburgh Hall’
The awards for Excellence in Innovation and Project of the Year were testament to our hard work in restoring this beautiful building expertly and sensitively back to its original glory following the catastrophic collapse of one of the main dormers in 2016.
Over the course of 6 years, we worked carefully and meticulously to sympathetically repair individual timbers, strengthen the roof and dismantle and refurbish 14 masonry dormers and 27 individual chimneys. This was a complex and delicate task not least because the moat which surrounds the hall couldn’t be drained for any length of time. Our Innovative methods led to our design and the build of a complex scaffold which enabled us to complete the works whilst keeping the hall safely open to the public.
The project was the largest conservation project undertaken by the National Trust (East of England) and gained local press coverage and recognition on the Sky TV series ‘Heritage Rescue’
We are incredibly proud to have been recognised by Norfolk Constructing Excellence and also receiving the IStructE Regional award in 2022 for Structural Excellence for this project.