Pennycress Fields

Banady Lane, Cheltenham

Project summary

Pennycress Fields, situated in the picturesque village of Stoke Orchard near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, is a luxury residential development valued at £4.5 million. Designed by Knarsboro Homes Limited, this development features 46 high-specification, two-storey houses that offer spacious, quality living spaces. The project required OES Consulting’s expertise in structural engineering and foundation work to ensure that these luxury homes could be built to the highest standards amidst challenging site conditions.

Services provided

OES Consulting’s contributions encompassed structural and civil engineering along with BIM modelling.

Structural Engineering Applied extensive knowledge of residential structural design to meet the high-specification needs of luxury homes.
Foundation Work Designed foundations compliant with NHBC Chapter 4.2, addressing the cohesive nature of the soil and the presence of trees, hedgerows, and shrubs in the area, which required careful planning to manage potential soil volume changes.

Challenges and solutions

The primary challenge was the nature of the landscape, which contained shrinkable soils and was populated with trees, hedgerows, and other vegetation. These site conditions presented a risk of ground volume changes, requiring special investigation and treatment. OES’s solution involved adhering to NHBC Chapter 4.2 to define appropriate foundation depths and account for potential soil movement due to vegetation.

Additionally, Knarsboro Homes required a swift project turnaround, and OES’s team delivered structural and foundation designs promptly without compromising on quality. Our deep expertise in residential structural design enabled us to produce robust foundations and deliver results that met Knarsboro’s high standards for luxury housing on a tight schedule.