Blackpool Central Corridor Phase 2, Blackpool

Blackpool Central Corridor is designed to improve the Blackpool arrival experience along the central access corridor, which links the M55 directly with the heart of Blackpool. The Phase 2 project included an upgraded highway, remodelled existing car parking, landscaping and environmental improvements, traffic and pedestrian management improvements and a new external plaza and pedestrian crossing to the Blackpool Football club stadium. As part of the remodelling of the area a sustainable drainage system was incorporated into the design. This included using stored rainwater to irrigate trees planted as part of the scheme.

Client: Blackpool Borough Council

Contractor: Carillion Capital Projects Ltd

Design Engineer: Martin Stockley Associates

Permavoid distributor: S.E.L. Environmental

Date: 2009

Key design aspects: The system comprised Charcon Permakerb to collect and treat the storm water runoff from the impermeable highway. The treated surface runoff feeds into Permavoid storage conduits fitted with Biomat units. The stored water is then fed to rings of Permafoam units which are high strength modular creates filled with a hydrophilic martial that absorbs water and releases it on demand. These are connected to the wicking textile lined tree pits that supply water to irrigate the trees lining the new highway. Some additional gullies fitted with Permaceptor mini-oil/silt gravity separators are used in the car park and the treated water is also fed into Permavoid storage conduits fitted with Biomat units that feed into the Permafoam wicking textile tree irrigation system to irrigate the trees in centre of the car park. The excess treated surface runoff water overflows into the existing car-park drainage system at green field run off rate.