Case Study: Havebury Housing Partnership

Capital Projects

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The Havebury Housing Partnership is dedicated to the provision of good quality affordable homes and housing services across the Eastern Region. Although independent, Havebury works closely with local authorities as well as with other housing associations and agencies in meeting housing needs and providing affordable housing and community services.

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Havebury is a member of the Sustainable Homes Index For Tomorrow (SHIFT). All members of this group sign up to independent assessment of their environmental performance, as well as committing to improving their sustainability. In the 2010/2011 Public Sustainability Assessment, Havebury was recognised as one of the most environmentally-friendly housing associations in the country, securing a silver award.

Project

Alpheus has been carrying out Planned Preventative Maintenance for Havebury Housing on sewage treatment and sewage pumping assets at 19 sites for a number of years. The treatment plants on two of these sites had reached the end of their useful life. A proposal for the replacement of these two plants with modern package treatment plants was submitted to Havebury and Alpheus was awarded the contract to replace the sewage treatment plants at the Thelnetham and Nowton sites.

Implementation

The two projects were commissioned on a turnkey basis and included civil works as well as obtaining planning approval on behalf of Havebury.

The main challenge faced during the design and implementation of these projects was to accommodate the new plants within the footprint of the existing plant compounds. Careful plant layout and reconfiguration of delivery and discharge mains enabled Alpheus to achieve this.

Alpheus selected package sewage treatment plants with extended aeration for both sites, which had the benefit of low sludge production. Consequently, there was less sludge to be disposed of and lower associated sludge disposal costs.

Outcomes

Following the successful completion of the projects, both on time and on budget, Havebury Housing has been able to achieve significant savings at both sites with the more modern plants. Planned preventative maintenance costs are reduced as visits are less frequently required and the lower sludge production also results in further savings. Overall investment is maximised and environmental obligations are met, allowing Havebury to pursue its sustainability strategy.