News: Capital progress thanks to Bennett's design

Design experts at Rotherham firm, Bennett Associates have helped to come up with a solution to having to transport construction materials on the congested streets of London.

By opening up existing waterways in East London, a more sustainable and practical alternative has been developed that will enable a huge array of construction materials to be transported to the area by barge.

Completed in June 2009, it will provide a green freight route for the redevelopment of East London as well as a platform for a new "Water City". New opportunities will be created for leisure boats, water taxis, trip boats and floating restaurants, providing a boost to the local economy.

British Waterways lead the £20m project for a new lock and water control structure on Prescott Channel in Bromley-by-Bow to service the large scale construction projects in the area.

The project was undertaken by main contractor Volker Stevin Ltd. Bennett Associates formed part of the supporting design team, bringing to the project their extensive expertise in locks and waterways.

Bennett Associates were consulting engineers for the structural, mechanical and electrical design of a new river impounding structure for the development. This included the design and supervision of lock gates and all associated hydraulic and control systems.

Based in Whiston, Bennett Associates is considered a centre of excellence within the Atkins Group.

Bennett Associates website
Rotherham

Images: British Waterways