Embassy Village Surveys
Published on by James Wyllie
Survey Solutions supported Manchester’s Embassy Village with utility, drainage and laser surveys—enabling 3D modelling for a supported housing development.
Our Manchester team undertook recent Embassy Village surveys, where an innovative Manchester based charity is transforming historical railway arches into a supported housing. The project will provide 40 secure homes, a community centre and 24/7 support to re-integrate vulnerable men back into society.
The site for Embassy Village is located on a self-contained, currently derelict piece of land between the Bridgewater Canal and the River Irwell in Manchester’s city centre. Originally built 150 years ago, the site sits under two railway viaducts and comprises of 10 railway arches where 40 new permanent homes will be built. There will also be a Village Hall, which will become a community hub and training and mentoring facility for residents, a reception pod to ensure site security, and outside multi-use space.
In order to understand where and what types of foundations could be built, as well as where the required utilities, such as electricity, water, sewerage and internet could be installed, Embassy’s architects and groundworks contractors needed to understand what was underneath the ground in terms of pipes and cables, services and utilities, and exactly where these were positioned.
Using GPR to Investigate Below Ground Conditions
Our Survey Solutions Manchester team conducted an underground utility survey, which involved using penetrating radar to ascertain where wires, cables and pipes are situated, as well as detail regarding their depth. A CCTV drainage survey was also commissioned to locate and track any sewage and water pipes. Finally, a laser scan produced a point cloud survey of the site, including the insides of some of the arches.
This will provide the data to enable the architects to produce a 3D model of the entire site, which will assist with the architectural designs and to provide visualisations and animations of their proposals.
Having completed RIBA 3, Embassy is delighted to be in a position to enter the Pre-Construction Service Agreement and hope to be on site in early September 2023. We are delighted to have been able to support Embassy with its ambitious plans to tackle homelessness in Manchester, and be part of an extensive team providing practical services and materials to help get this commendable project off the ground. We were thrilled to receive recognition from our client Embassy when they won a RESI 2024 BTR Social Impact Initiative Award. The Resi Awards, hosted by Property Week, celebrates the achievements of the residential property sector.
Access more information on the Embassy project.
“We now have a full suite of information to enable plans and designs to be drawn up and for the groundworkers to dig confidently. We can’t thank Survey Solutions enough. They were very friendly and quick to come down, and were flexible as to when they came on site. The surveys and reports they have produced have provided invaluable information that will enable us to progress the design and construction of the Village.”
Co-founder and Director , Embassy
