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Case Study

Delivering Dignity: £9.4m State-of-the-Art Mortuary

Health

In a landmark partnership with West Northamptonshire Council (WCN) and Stepnell Ltd, Rolton provided comprehensive multi-disciplinary engineering services for the vital new community asset: The Northampton Public Mortuary.

This state-of-the-art facility, located at Riverside Business Park is a significant investment designed to provide a modern, dignified, and compassionate environment for families during difficult times, equipped to offer specialised post- mortem suites, a  digital CT scanner, extendable storage and major incident support.

The design was developed in conjunction with industry experts, including a national pool of pathologists, local fire and police authorities, undertakers, mortuary equipment and CT scanner specialists alongside WNC internal stakeholders.

Rolton delivered Geotechnical & Geo-Environmental, Civil, Structural, and Building Services Engineering for the high-specification project:

  • Geotechnical & Geo-Environmental site investigation report and earthworks specification
  • Building Services design up to RIBA stage 3
  • Technical Design for Civil & Structural Engineering to RIBA stage 4
  • Novation to complete under appointment to Stepnell for provision of Technical Advisor role for RIBA stages 5-6
  • Implementation of a robust Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and Drainage Strategy, including necessary spatial reconfigurations
  • Production of construction drawings for foundations, ground-bearing floor slabs, reinforced concrete retaining walls, steel frame and masonry elements
  • A review of the high voltage (HV) statutory overhead cabling supported on pylons adjacent to the site, including investigation on potential separation requirements to guide the building position
  • Relocation of the whole building as part of a design change that was undertaken to limit the impact on surrounding biodiversity.

The Northampton Public Mortuary stands as a testament to collaborative engineering, providing the region with a technologically advanced and sensitive facility that will serve the community for decades to come.

Service Lines

Geotechnical
Geotechnical & Geo-Environmental Engineering
Civils Infrastructure
Civil Engineering
Structural Engineering
Structural Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Building Services Engineering

"We are immensely proud to have played a key role in delivering this vital facility for the people of Northamptonshire. Projects of this nature require a unique balance of technical precision and deep sensitivity. By integrating our multi-disciplinary expertise—from complex geotechnical assessments to high-specification building services—we have helped create a modern, resilient environment that prioritises dignity for families and provides the highest standards of support for the professionals serving them."

Peter Rolton Executive Chairman

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