Scholes Village

Scholes Village is a landmark retrofit project located in the heart of Wigan, one of the first residential projects in England to install new evacuation communication systems in its 12-storey buildings. Our team took a multi-disciplinary approach, providing electrical, mechanical, structural, fire and lift engineering, as well as undertaking planning and building control applications and CDM Principal Designer. We focused on providing sustainable solutions that would minimise disruption to residents and futureproof the building for the benefit of the Council and tenants.

The project involved replacement lifts, fire alarm, communal lighting, smoke ventilation, mains water supply upgrade, fire alarm and evacuation communication system installations. To account for the lift retrofit that allowed stopping at every floor instead of alternating floors, the building’s lateral stability system was analysed to determine the existing capacity of the shear walls. Through 3D modelling, it was found that new openings could be created without any structural strengthening works being required, providing a minimally disruptive, cost-effective solution.

Graham Barker, Partner comments “Collaboration was key to this project. With so many stakeholders, their satisfaction was a central measure of success, which meant maintaining open communication with tenants, client and contractors. Of particular pride was the close involvement of the fire service to significantly improve fire safety and fire service provisions within the buildings.”