Member Article

Metal recycling company to invest £4m in new Chesterfield site thanks to geotechnical assistance from Caulmert

A leading Derbyshire recycling company is investing £4m into upgrading its depot in Chesterfield with support from environmental planning specialist Caulmert.

Swadlincote-based metals and waste recycler Ward Recycling is redeveloping a 7.5-acre site in XXXXX with new facilities and equipment.

Once developed, the Chesterfield site would be able to process 60,000 tonnes of waste metal from the construction and demolition industries every year.

The redevelopment plan, which includes a new building and hardstanding for storing and processing recyclable materials, will also lead to the creation of new jobs at the site.

Caulmert, based in Eastwood, Nottingham, will carry out ground investigations, geotechnical surveys and flood risk assessments, as well as planning services on the project.

The complex project requires significant ground investigations to design foundations for new building and equipment, including a new 500-tonne parting shear.

The £1.5m piece of plant, which is being imported from Germany, would break up heavy scrap metal from the demolition and construction industries, such as girders, steel joints and other metallic construction materials.

The Danieli Henschel machinery is one of only two shears of its size to be installed in Britain this year. It will process materials from demolition projects across the UK, including the recently refurbished Birmingham New Street station and Didcot A Power Station.

Ward Recycling managing director Donald Ward said: “We’re looking to bring this site up to modern standards, which will create jobs and allow us to continue the growth of the company.

“The Chesterfield site was in need of significant restoration when we bought it a year ago.

“We retained 10 members of staff and have since hired 10 more workers. If our plans are approved, we’ll be looking to create more jobs once the project is completed, which should be in the summer.

“The Chesterfield site is an important investment that will help safeguard the company’s future. By investing in new machinery and buildings, we’re looking to reduce the visual impact of materials stored on site and make it as efficient as possible.”

A fourth-generation family firm founded in the 1940s, Ward Recycling has an annual turnover of £100m, with two further sites in Ilkeston and another in Swadlincote.

Caulmert’s principal hydrogeologist Sarah Venning said: “It’s a complicated project to work on, as there’s a history of underground coal mining in the area.

“We need to investigate the composition of the ground on site, which will inform the type of foundations needed for the buildings and plant, which weigh about 500 tonnes.

“Our investigations will include drilling approximately 30m into the ground to check for the presence of coal or underground mine workings, to ensure the safe development of the area.

“Ground investigations are already under way, and are due to be completed in early March.”

Founded in 2009, Caulmert is on track to meet an ambitious 15-year growth plan that would see it employ 250 people by 2024. Its expertise in engineering, environmental and planning disciplines is supported by its use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to a Level 2 standard in many of its projects.

For more information about Caulmert visit www.caulmert.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .