Old Saltleians RFC club house takes shape as the building frame goes up!

The Old Saltleians RFC training ground development is progressing at a pace, with the steel frame for the new clubhouse taking shape this week and completed ahead of programme, providing a great start for the building works.

Since starting on site in November 2021 we have completed the cut and fill works, earthworks, the foundations for the building and under the guidance of ecologists, the works to the existing pond and a new pond has been formed on site.

Whilst the weather over the last few months has created challenges, these have been overcome to keep the programme on schedule.

Keeping it Local and Recycling

To date we have brought to site over five thousand tonnes of recycled material avoiding the use of primary aggregates and recycled material has been sourced locally to reduce transport distance and impact on road users and the environment.

Materials were used to create the access road onto site as the first operation to provide access for construction works and avoid carrying debris onto the surrounding roads.

We are providing local staff resources for this project, achieving reduced travel times to site, meaning a decrease in travel time for staff, contributing towards reducing our emissions.

Community Relations

Fundamental to the success of the project is our ability to minimise impact and disruption to the local environment given the site’s location within a busy residential area with housing adjacent to the site.

Keeping residents informed is important and with this in mind a pre-start meeting was held with the local parish councillors and letter drops conducted to keep residents up to date on the works.

No complaints have been received.

Old Salteians RFC Project Overview

Works commenced on the project with a formal ground-breaking ceremony on 25 November 2021, for a 12-month duration to deliver a fantastic new facility for Old Saltleians, who are relocating due to HS2.

O’Brien are using our in-house civil engineering & construction expertise, along with our extensive sports development experience, delivering a turnkey design & build solution for the client.

The scheme includes a brand-new club house, associated access roads, car parks along with seven natural turf pitches and associated infrastructure. This will be a fantastic development for the club, the rugby, and local communities for generations to come.

The scheme follows on from our hugely successful scheme at Aston Villa training ground, which has been testament to our skills and capabilities when it comes to providing outstanding turnkey sports facilities.

 

ilities.

O’Brien Touch Down at Old Saltleians RFC, to Develop New Rugby Training Grounds!

O’Brien Contractors are proud to be working with Old Saltleians RFC to develop their new training grounds in Water Orton.

A number of years after the process started our O’Brien Director Tony Mitchell along with the Client and their professional team have succeeded in bringing the project from the table and onto site. Works commenced with a formal ground breaking ceremony on 25 November.

Members of the Old Saltleians RFC and other stakeholders attended the formal ground breaking ceremony on the 25th November which kicks off the 12 month project to deliver the new facility for the relocation of Old Salts from their old grounds due to HS2.

Utilising our in house civil engineering & construction expertise, along with our extensive sports development experience, we are delivering a turnkey design & build solution for the client.

The scheme includes a brand new club house, associated access roads, car parks along with seven natural turf pitches and associated infrastructure. This will be a fantastic development for the club, the rugby and local communities for generations to come.

The scheme follows on from our hugely successful scheme at Aston Villa training ground, which has been testament to our skills and capabilities when it comes to providing outstanding turnkey sports facilities.

A massive well done to the O’Brien team involved on bringing the project to fruition, some things are definitely worth waiting for!

Some of the O’Brien machines working on the site, came along for the photoshoot as well!

 

O’Brien Breaks Ground on New Cemetery Project for Sandwell MBC

O’Brien Contractors are proud to be working with Sandwell Council on this important and sensitive project.

Sandwell Council Press Release:

Name of New Cemetery Revealed as Work Begins 100 years After First Burial at Neighbouring Cemetery

Work has begun to create a brand-new cemetery and improve open space in Rowley Regis.

The name of the new cemetery has also been revealed – almost 100 years to the day the first burial took place at neighbouring Rowley Regis Cemetery.

Sandwell Council’s £2.2million project to create Canalside Cemetery and Open Space just off Powke Lane is set to be completed next year (2022).

The new cemetery is on land opposite the existing Rowley Regis Crematorium and Cemetery, where the first burial took place on 21 November 1921. Fifteen-year-old shovel maker Clifford Blunt of Old Hill was the first person to be buried there, records show.

The new cemetery, which is being constructed by O’Brien Contractors Ltd, will provide burial space for Sandwell residents for decades to come.

The project includes improvements to the open space around the new cemetery, areas near the canal walkway – from which the cemetery will take its name – and ecological improvements.

Local companies and contractors are working on the site, including staff who live within walking distance of Powke Lane and Black Country-based suppliers.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and communities Councillor Kerrie Carmichael said: “The new cemetery will take up less than 30 per cent of the green space, and the rest of the area will still be open to the public for walks and other activities, which we know is really important to the local community.

“Work will be carried out sensitively, minimising disruption to residents where we can. We’ll be focusing on not only improving the open space around the new cemetery, but also boosting the ecological value of the site.”

Deputy Leader of Sandwell Council Councillor Maria Crompton said: “This new cemetery is so necessary for Sandwell as we are rapidly running out of burial space. Rowley Regis Cemetery is now close to capacity, having been in use for exactly 100 years.

“Without this new site, we’re facing the possibility of families being unable to bury their loved ones here in the not too distant future which would be heart-breaking for them.”

Stuart Chamberlain, Executive Director at O’Brien Contractors Ltd said: “We are delighted that Sandwell Council has turned to our groundworks and civil engineering expertise to deliver Canalside Cemetery in Rowley Regis.

“Once completed, the cemetery will provide a beautifully landscaped and peaceful resting place for loved ones and for those visiting to pay their respects.”

Plans for the site include not only the creation of space for burials, but also an office building, toilets for staff and mourners, installation of CCTV, car parking and an improved and much safer entrance off Powke Lane to the new cemetery and open space.

Work on the new cemetery will see more than 70% of the existing green area remain as public open space.

Public rights of way will also be maintained across the site once the cemetery is completed, but currently remain temporarily closed while construction is under way.