SC23079 – Folkestone LUF2 Structures Survey

The “Folkestone – A Brighter Future” scheme seeks to ‘level up’ Folkestone’s town centre by supporting active travel, creating a high-quality environment that supports civic pride and reverses years of disparity in investment by transforming the fortunes of the towns primary retail areas.

The scheme will involve public realm improvements which will involve alterations to the existing highways, drainage networks, street lighting and landscaping.

Cheriton Gardens and Middelburg Square subways and their northern ramp arrangements are proposed to be modified as part of scheme. In addition, the Shellons Street retaining wall and ramp is proposed to be modified to allow the construction of a new combined steps and ramps arrangement. As there is limited archive information available for these structures a detailed investigation is required to identify their existing structural arrangements to inform the design.

The existing Cheriton Gardens Subway is a single span concrete subway, comprising a precast portal section and an in-situ portal section. The precast north section has an approximate clear span of 3.12m and an approximate length of 15.95m. The in-situ south section has an approximate minimum clear span of 2.48m and the approximate length of 16.25m. The existing Middelburg Square Subway is a single span concrete subway, comprising precast portals. The subway has an approximate clear span of 3.15m and approximate length of 14m. The retaining walls surrounding the north ramps of both subways have a maximum retained height of 4.25m. The walls are clad with a ragstone facing. The ramp walls are topped with pedestrian parapets. The Shellons Street retaining wall consists of precast reinforced concrete sections, with an approx. maximum 2.5m retained height. Both walls have a block work facing. The walls are topped with pedestrian parapets.

The GPR survey focuses on the sections of the scheme which will require the accurate detection, identification, verification, and location of utility assets that would potentially be affected by the scheme. The focus areas of the survey within the town of Folkestone will include Station Approach; Cheriton Road and Cheriton Gardens; Shorncliffe Road; Middelburg Square; Bouverie Place; Foresters Way; Shellons Street; Guildhall Street; Sandgate Road; and Town centre public areas.
The purpose of the Ground Penetrating Survey (GPR) is to determine the buildability of the scheme proposals.

The Tree survey aims to record information about the trees within or adjacent to the site boundary.

The Drainage survey aims to undertake a drainage connectivity survey of onsite apparatus information for all drainage providers (both public and private, surface and foul) that are within the proposed extents of the site.

The above survey information is required to further progress the design of the “Folkestone – A brighter Future’ scheme and therefore Kent County Council would welcome the efforts of the successful tenderer to deliver on the requirements as soon as possible.