ATT Facility, Hoddesdon

This ATT facility will have an initial output capacity of 10MWe and the feedstock is refuse derived fuel (RDF).

The site itself was very challenging for our engineers as it has a history of disturbance predominantly related to the commissioning activities associated with the demolished coal power station. The site is brownfield in character but has developed semi-natural habitats over recent years such as that of the great crested newt, which our team had to work around to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations around protected wildlife and animals.

Other issues pertaining to this site included it having a high water table, which made it difficult to build new foundations on. Asbestos was encountered on the site, as well as a 6 metre culvert running across the site, which itself is also very constrained. There was also a power station located next to the site that had a sensitive switch gear and there was also a rising main from the power station, all of which had to be carefully considered at every stage of the project.

Despite all of these issues, our engineers successfully constructed the new single-storey ATT facility that houses the generation plant and the fuel delivery/storage, as well as a three-storey welfare and office facility within it.

The works carried out by our engineers included the design layout and levels of private storm and foul drainage, the design, specification and detailing of piled foundations and piled slabs. In regards to mechanical and electrical services, our engineers designed lighting installation both internally and externally, as well as access control and CCTV and heating and cooling systems.

Rolton Group produced all structural, mechanical and electrical details using 3D co-ordinated models, allowing us and the wider project team to create intelligent, integrated designs at each RIBA stage, even as the scope and requirements of the process plant developed significantly as the project progressed.