Country: United Kingdom
Key Area: Other Infrastructure
Services: Civil Engineering,Geotechnical Engineering

Opus is engaged as lead engineering consultant on the redevelopment of a large disused cement quarry in Oxfordshire.

Shipton Quarry extends over 71 Ha, part of which has Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status in recognition of important geological features that require preservation as the site is developed.

The current owners are proposing to build a commercial storage development after the remaining reserves of Jurassic limestone are quarried.

Opus’ involvement in this project includes the preliminary design for the filling and landform, importing around 2 million cubic metres of insert fill to create the platform for the development.

This includes assessment and environmental statement reports on drainage, flood risk and hydrogeology in addition to investigation to report on contamination, ground water and gas levels at the site.

An interesting feature of the work is to advise on the formation of ‘windows’ to preserve and expose the significant geological features at the quarry, such as the  internationally recognised fossil finds, which include the best collection of Middle Jurassic crocodiles in the world.