Traditional construction practices often have a heavy environmental toll including high energy consumption, carbon emissions, and habitat destruction.
While it is widely acknowledged that the world faces unprecedented challenges in protecting the environment related to climate change and resource depletion, other environmental stressors and the value of rare and unique habitats are becoming more apparent. As more aspects of the environment prove to be under stress, adopting sustainability solutions, including the principle of Nutrient Neutrality in construction and civil engineering, becomes increasingly imperative.
In March 2022, Natural England (on behalf of the Government) wrote to the Local Planning Authority and County Council Chief Executives and Heads of Planning, as well as several other local and national governmental bodies. They outlined new requirements for the approval of new development, designed to ensure that some of the most important wildlife sites in England do not experience any further adverse effects caused by nutrients entering the environment in the construction of new development.
While this advice focuses on development that includes new overnight accommodation, which is predominantly new housing, the ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU (known as the Dutch Case), also prompted the Government to introduce other measures. The new measures aim to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the environment, leading to deterioration in the condition of designated environmental sites.
What is Nutrient Neutrality?
Nutrient Neutrality is the term used to describe the scenario where the nutrient output (which is measured in total phosphorous and total nitrogen) of a development has been limited to the level that existed prior to development. This is achieved by introducing measures to capture nutrients on-site or by offsetting by reducing the level of nutrients discharged from other sources.
The excess of nutrients affecting designated environmental sites is caused by several factors, including planned and unplanned release of treated and untreated sewage from the existing population and agricultural run-off. It also comprises the construction of new housing development and its contribution through the change in land use and the influx of new population.
Additional population from new residential development increases the volume of phosphorus and nitrogen passing through sewage treatment works. These nutrients, while required for any ecosystem to survive, in excess can encourage the disproportionate growth of algae and other microorganisms (i.e. algal blooms). This is a process known as eutrophication that leads to the reduction in available oxygen which can be devastating for sensitive aquatic species and ecosystems.
Norfolk and Nutrient Neutrality
Many ecologically valuable sites and species in England are identified and designated under a European Directive known as the Habitats Directive. Subsequently, these and the areas that support them, are designated under various UK regulations as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
Norfolk contains many SACs; some of which are chosen based on their aquatic habitats, such as those found in the Broads and the River Wensum (a chalk-fed oolite river channel). Local Planning Authorities cannot approve developments incorporating new overnight accommodation within these SACs if the development would increase the amount of nutrients entering the SAC.
In Norfolk, a consortium of local authorities has formed a company called Norfolk Environmental Credits to help developments achieve Nutrient Neutrality using credits. Developers may have the option to purchase credits generated from these types of solutions to offset the impact of their development or to implement some of these solutions themselves.
Other options for offsetting nutrient production include replacing heavily polluting septic tanks with less polluting treatment options, introducing water-saving measures into new and existing accommodation and enhancing water recycling infrastructure such as sewage treatment works.
Whichever option is used, the mitigation must result in no net increase in nutrients entering the environment for the lifetime of the development. They must be robustly evidenced and secured before a decision notice being issued by the Local Planning Authority.
A consortium of Norfolk Local Planning Authorities and Anglia Water has formed a not-for-profit company producing nutrient credits called Norfolk Environmental Credits Ltd (NEC). They have already completed a mitigation project involving the removal of livestock from some areas of land at Markshall Farm, next to the A47 south of Norwich. This project has allowed a significant number of housing projects to move forward. In addition, the Nutrient Mitigation Fund – Norfolk was recently launched, which offers £200,000 grants and is backed by a fund of £9.3M to help potential new entrants to the credit market develop solutions.
Our Experience
Many of our clients have faced their projects being delayed due to the introduction of the requirement to demonstrate Nutrient Neutrality.
Our team of experienced civil engineers at Rossi Long Consulting regularly works with developers to help them address the significant challenges arising from the introduction of the new measure. We can provide clients with either the evidence base required to obtain nutrient credits and allow their projects to proceed or with engineered solutions where credits are not viable.
By exploring innovative solutions with other stakeholders and regulatory bodies, we are also able to assist clients who are seeking an alternative resolution where neither of these are an option.
To continue to expand our expertise in this new and rapidly evolving field, we work closely with Local Planning Authorities, Water Companies, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Norfolk Environmental Credits and various other stakeholders. The knowledge and experience we have gained over the last two years since Natural England advised of the requirement to achieve Nutrient Neutrality, and the relationships we have built with key stakeholders, makes us ideally placed to assist clients with finding the right Nutrient Neutrality solution.
We are pleased to announce that we have been appointed by East Suffolk Council to assist with the planning application for the regeneration of two brownfield sites in the area of Kirkley Waterfront, Lowestoft.
Following a competitive tendering submission, we were confirmed as the selected engineers to provide engineering consultancy for remediation works, and a comprehensive hybrid planning application for the sites.
The two sites that are being considered for redevelopment are the former Sanyo and Survitec sites which cover 8 hectares in total. The redevelopment forms part of the wider Kirkley Waterfront and Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood (SUN) plan which is in the early stages of planning to develop the Lowestoft Lake Lothing and Outer Harbour Areas into a mixed-use development.
Image courtesy of East Suffolk Council
On Saturday 29th June, 13 members of the Rossi Long team donned their hiking boots to step up to the challenge of walking 20-miles in aid of the pregnancy loss charity, TimeNorfolk.
Setting off bright and early at 8.30 am, the route took them along the picturesque path from Reedham to Bramerton, along a mixture of county roads, and nettle and grass-lined tracks. With a few breaks along the way to recharge, the team made it to the finishing line having walked an extra few miles to what was planned, resulting in the walk being almost 23-miles, taking an incredible 9 1/2 hours.
Although exhausted, those who crossed the finish line were thrilled to have completed the walk and immensely proud for raising money for this all-important charity.
TimeNorfolk is Rossi Long Consulting’s chosen charity of the year and, to raise money and awareness for the charity, we have organised several events including our biggest fundraiser, our Wherryman’s Way Walking Challenge. We’re excited to announce we have raised over a staggering £2,000 to date for our walk and are so thankful to those who have supported us on this mission.
The charity provides wellbeing support to anyone in Norfolk and Waveney who experiences mental health challenges due to pregnancy loss at any stage, baby loss or pregnancy choices.
Please visit our JustGiving Page if you would like to make a donation.
Rossi Long Consulting is thrilled to announce two award wins at this year’s Norfolk Constructing Excellence Awards. This follows on from the awards received last year for Project of the Year and Innovation Awards for Oxburgh Hall.
Our exceptional engineering consultancy on the community-focused Priscilla Bacon Lodge project was recognised with a win for the LSI Architect’s led design team in the Project of the Year category.
We were also honoured to be part of the team that received Residential Project of the Year which included our outstanding civil and structural engineering contributions to the Bowers Green, Hopton, housing development.
Further projects that our team of skilled engineers undertook throughout the last year received award nominations. The Big School East Wing Refurbishment at Gresham's School was shortlisted in the Delivering Value category and two projects, Feilden House and Royal West Norfolk Golf Club competed in the Regeneration and Retrofit categories.
Receiving these awards and nominations is a real demonstration of our unwavering commitment, dedication and expertise in delivering top-tier engineering solutions across a range of sectors. We are immensely proud to be integral members of the teams behind these remarkable projects and are pleased to see their invaluable contributions to the local community recognised.
Supporting charities and giving back to the local community is something we're proud to do as a company.
In 2024, we have decided to support a charity throughout the year with the aim of raising as much money as possible through various fun activities.
We are delighted to announce that this year’s nominated charity is TimeNorfolk, The Pregnancy Loss Charity. This all-important charity was voted for by our staff and is close to the hearts of many in our office.
TimeNorfolk provides wellbeing support to anyone in Norfolk and Waveney who experiences mental health challenges due to pregnancy loss at any stage, baby loss or pregnancy choices.
We already have loads of fundraising initiatives planned for the year, including our big event, our Wherryman’s Way Walking challenge! Staff will be setting out on June 29th to hike 20 miles along Wherryman’s Way between Norwich and Great Yarmouth in aid of TimeNorfolk.
We will be raising money via our Just Giving page and would be extremely grateful of your donations, support and encouragement before, during and after the event.
Visit TimeNorfolk’s website for more information on the brilliant work this charity offers to those dealing with the pain and trauma of pregnancy loss.
Registered charity number: 1157905
Sustainable Engineering and GGBS
In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable construction practices, Engineers are constantly seeking solutions to reduce the environmental impact of building materials.
One such solution that has been used since the nineteenth century due to its ability to improve concrete’s durability is Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS). GGBS, a by-product from the blast furnaces used to make iron and steel, possesses unique properties that can enhance the performance of concrete while simultaneously reducing its environmental impact.
Concrete in Construction
Concrete is the most widely used construction material globally; in the UK alone, it is estimated that around 37.5 million cubic metres are used in the construction industry each year. However, concrete has long been associated with significant carbon emissions during its production. The process of manufacturing traditional Portland cement, a key component of concrete, releases substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Using GGBS to Reduce Carbon Emissions
One of the primary advantages of GGBS is its ability to replace a portion of the cement content in concrete mixes, leading to a decrease in overall carbon emissions. By replacing a percentage of cement with GGBS, Engineers can achieve concrete mixes with improved durability, reduced heat of hydration, and enhanced resistance to aggressive environments.
GGBS - a Limited Resource
However, a recent paper from the Institution of Structural Engineers highlights that GGBS is in fact a limited resource and has almost been fully exploited around the world. Although global supplies should continue to be utilised where technically needed, such as for durability or for temperature and crack control, beyond these alternative options should be considered.
If other cement substitutes are available locally these should be used in place of GGBS. With the introduction of the new British Standards for Concrete (BS8500-1:2023 and BS8500-2:2023) in November 2023, the range of low carbon options permitted has increased to aid with optimising the use of GGBS and to enable GGBS to be primarily used where required for technical reasons. The most significant change to the Standards has been the introduction of the use of multi-component cements, also known as Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). As an example, GGBS and limestone or pulverised fly ash and limestone can be used in combination with a cement replacement. The revised BS8500 now permits up to 65% cement replacement, whereas with the previous standards this was limited to 35%.
Further research is also being carried out into the use of alternative materials such as calcined clay. This could mean that future updates to British Standards allows for additional options to reduce the cement content of concrete, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions.
Our Approach
As Engineers we fully understand our role in helping to reduce the impact of Portland cement in construction.
When presented with a project, we will assess whether GGBS is required for technical reasons or if there are alternative concrete mixes that can be provided. By having an in-depth understanding of the latest British Standards, we are up-to-date on the current alternative concrete mixes that are available to best inform our clients of how the carbon emissions associated with concrete can be reduced.
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.
Images courtesy of University of Cambridge