The brief
We worked with our client, The Silvertown Partnership and their ecologists, AECOM, to facilitate the £3.5bn Silvertown Quays scheme.
The scheme involves the re-development of the iconic Millennium Mills, including the construction of a school, health centre, shops and an innovative new bridge. Upon completion, the scheme will have 3000 new homes, two million sq. ft. of commercial space and three million sq. ft. of ‘brand spaces’.
Thomson Habitats was contracted to clear all on-site vegetation which had the potential for nesting birds. The works were undertaken outside of the nesting bird season and during reptile and bat hibernation periods. This was to ensure the minimum amount of disturbance to wildlife.
It was vital that all the works which were to be carried out caused minimum disturbance to the ground.
What we did
- Sensitive vegetation clearance, using a low ground pressure tracked loader with a forestry mulcher attachment
- Any scrub that could not be safely removed by the mulcher was cleared by a chainsaw and brushcutter team with a 6” tracked wood chipper
- Removal of cotoneaster as a Schedule 9 invasive species.
The outcome
Despite a tight programme, and difficult ground conditions, we were able to meet the client’s requirements and carry out the clearance works sensitively and efficiently. The works were carried out to the satisfaction of the project ecologist, AECOM.
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Silvertown Docks, London
