The Kilnwood Vale project, located near Gatwick, is a significant sustainable regeneration by Crest Nicholson. CampbellReith led the remediation of the 205 Ha site which included a former 60 Ha landfill, and transformed this into a thriving community, including 2,750 residential units, 744 affordable homes, a two-form entry primary school (with room for expansion), retail and employment space, various community facilities (elderly care facility and community centre), and extensive green spaces (including a brook and naturalised SuDS features). It has also involved the design of railway bridges to enable the future adjoining development.
The site was previously a deep landfill and was not developable because of land instability (settlement), high ground gas risk and irregular topography. The regeneration has been possible because of the notable innovations in the approach to landfill remediation that CampbellReith implemented at the site to facilitate the reuse of excavated soils whilst addressing the technical concerns associated with ground gas risk, soil contamination, ground settlement and civil engineering challenges.
CampbellReith has been the lead engineer [geotechnical, land quality, civil and structural] and have designed and overseen the whole remediation and strategic infrastructure construction.
The whole redevelopment adopted sustainable development principles, but the remediation specifically contributed significantly to environmental and socially aligned UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the government’s Social Value commitments.
The redevelopment, aligns with UN development goals: SDG 1(Poverty) by providing affordable housing in an area of shortage, providing community facilities/infrastructure and providing economic revitalization for the area; SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by enshrining the walkable neighbourhood concept and extensive green spaces to promote physical and mental well-being; SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by turning a former landfill into a sustainable, resilient community with a school and care facilities; and, SDG 15 (Life on Land) by creating new habitats and enhancing biodiversity including the provision of CampbellReith designed naturalised SuDS ponds and a realigned brook with mammal tunnels and fluvial ecology features. The remediation has been an exemplar in relation to sustainable building practices and infrastructure SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) by removing waste and off-site construction traffic.