Farrans Construction has completed a five-year public realm and regeneration project in Woking town centre, following a multi-million pound contract with Woking Borough Council.
Client
Woking Borough Council
The Project:
This multi-element project saw the erection of a pedestrian cycle bridge and tow path link over Basingstoke canal, adjacent to Chobham Road Bridge in Woking. Farrans had widened the original Victorian bridge back in the 1970s and the new bridge seamlessly unites the two sides of the canal towpath, removing the need for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the busy road. The scope included piled reinforced concrete bankseat structures, steel footbridge pedestrian handrails complete with lighting gabion retaining walls and reinforced concrete approaches and paths.
As part of the contract, a significant urban space and public realm at Dukes Court was created in the town centre.
Services & Expertise:
A key feature of the public realm work was the extensive remodelling of the existing Dukes Court Plaza, creating a landscaped pedestrianised public plaza with a new restaurant and outdoor seating. A key feature for Woking is a drive for sustainability and a number of creative features were introduced to the area. Innovative sustainable drainage systems, SuDS, in the form of rain gardens and attenuation tanks prevent downstream flooding. A 40m high green living wall, one of the tallest in the UK outside of London, was also installed to increase air quality in the town.
Further upgrades within the town centre included the transformation of Albion Square in front of the train station into a modern landscaped area and the extensive upgrade of surrounding roads to make them more pedestrian friendly.