A trapezoidal storage channel with concrete dry weather channel and revetments laid with Grasscrete.

Part of the preliminary works to the new Priory Business Park involved creating a flood alleviation scheme to the River Great Ouse. At this location the river was particularly prone to flooding the low lying site.

The works involved constructing a gabion weir to the dyke wall of the river with a 19 metre wide trapezoidal channel taken from and returning to the river. The first 150 metres of the channel had the revetments armoured by insitu Grasscrete in the GC2 (150m thick) type.

The specification called for Grasscrete to be laid via a geotextile directly on to a trimmed earth sub-grade. As the works were undertaken during summer months construction access was gained along the invert of the channel itself which enabled most of the area to be cast direct from the truck mixer. Other more inaccessible areas utilised a concrete pump for pouring.

Upon completion, the Grasscrete was seeded with a wild flora mix indigenous to the existing site and is now barely detectable as a hard lined flood channel.