Demings Moss Reservoir, Shap, Cumbria

Civils packages associated with the construction of reinforced concrete service reservoir, chemical building and hardstandings.

The project presented a number of challenges with the main building excavated out of the hillside at an environmentally sensitive, remote location. A significant earthworks operation was involved to accommodate the main reservoir building of 50m x 35m x 6m deep, with the area backfilled/landscaped on completion to be as unobtrusive as possible, including grassing over the reinforced concrete roof which, in effect, made the structure invisible to passing traffic.

The reinforced concrete reservoir itself consisted of a twin chamber structure with a reinforced concrete roof supported by 48 insitu-concrete columns, complete with weirs/sumps as required. The structure involved some 2,300 cubic metres of concrete, complete with 6,000 sq metres of formwork and 10,000 sq metres of mesh reinforcement. Specialist waterproofing was applied to the 6m high perimeter wall in advance of backfilling with the excavated earth.

The attached Chemical Building, constructed in reinforced concrete, was clad externally with local slate stone facing and render to blend in sympathetically with the surrounding area.