CEEQUAL Very Good – Whole Project Award
Version 6, September 2021 | Lossiemouth, Scotland
Assessor: Chris Spencer, Mott MacDonald
Verifier: Ian MacKay, Independent Sustainability Advisor
Client: Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Designer: Mott MacDonald
Contractor: VolkerFitzpatrick
Project Summary
RAF Lossiemouth is a military airfield located in the town of Lossiemouth, Moray, approximately 5km north of Elgin in Scotland. The project is a full refurbishment of all major airside pavement surfaces at RAF Lossiemouth for a new Boeing P8 fleet, Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) and normal operations.
Achievements
Management
The project was driven by the Client, MoD, setting clear requirements to incorporate sustainability elements at every stage of the project. This was followed up by a thorough Sustainability Appraisal, undertaken by Mott MacDonald, which helped to ensure sustainable development considerations and policy requirements are integrated into all plans, programmes, and projects that have the potential to affect the environment, society, or the economy. Mitigation measures and enhancements identified in the Sustainability Appraisal were followed through during the construction phase using a thorough and robust Construction Environmental Management Plan, implemented by VolkerFitzpatrick. This clear mechanism for managing sustainability issues on the project lead to a score of 73% for this section.
Resilience
For a large area of hardstanding, such as a runway as featured for this scheme, resilience was to play a vital role. From early on in the Scheme timeline, drainage assessments were undertaken and a Climate Impacts Risk Assessment Methodology was followed to understand and allow for climate resilience measures to be designed in. Particular attention was paid to the potential flood risk due to the location of the site in Scotland. Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDS) have been incorporated into the design where technically possible. The Scheme included an innovative aircraft wash re-use system to ease stress on the existing water environment. Additionally, the project inherently improves the resilience of the wider RAF network as it provides the MoD with a functional runway operating to the relevant design standards. These measures led to 83% being scored for this section.
Pollution
The design incorporated oil interceptors between the drainage design system and the Covesea Burn which helped to prevent contaminated runoff from the runway entering the environment. The Construction Environmental Management Plan implemented by VolkerFitzpatrick helped to minimise and mitigated any pollution impacts arising during the construction phase. These measures lead to a score of 73% on this Section.
CEEQUAL’s Role
Did the use of CEEQUAL deliver any financial benefits?
The project was able to re-use:
- 91% of the topsoil excavated
- 41% of the concrete
- 100% of the asphalt
- 100% of the sand
This gives an overall re-use on site of 72% of the materials.
Metrics:
- Re-used material: 99,658 m3, 72% of total material used
- Recycled material: 2815 tonnes, 64% of total material used
What were the drivers and perceived benefits for undertaking a CEEQUAL assessment on this project?
The key driver and benefit of CEEQUAL was that it allowed the project to look at opportunities beyond obvious benefits such as Biodiversity Net Gain or social benefits and to look at specific resource related elements such as the aircraft wash re-use system and the re-using and recycling of materials.
How did the use of CEEQUAL influence the outcomes of the project?
CEEQUAL encouraged clearer communication and more obvious attempts to share best practice and apply lessons learnt to other RAF Schemes facing similar issues of isolated sites and site security issues.
What elements of this project highlight best practice and innovation?
Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDS) have been incorporated into the design where technically possible. Additionally, the Scheme included an innovative aircraft wash re-use system to ease stress on the existing water environment.
What Our Clients Thought
“Resurfacing our airfield operating surfaces represents the next stage towards operating the fleet of P-8A Poseidon from RAF Lossiemouth, and I am glad to welcome VolkerFitzpatrick onto the team which will help to deliver it. The Lossiemouth Development Programme is a complex series of projects which is set to transform RAF Lossiemouth into a modern, high-tech Station, equipped to face a range of evolving challenges. It represents an infrastructure investment of over £400 million in Moray, the creation of around 550 additional military posts, and employment opportunities for many local contractors.”
– Group Captain Simon Strasdin, director of the Lossiemouth Development Programme
“Completing the works ahead of schedule has been a collaborative effort and is testament to the ongoing commitment of our teams to ensure that key projects can continue throughout this pandemic. We are looking forward to the next project at RAF Lossiemouth.”
– Keith Maplethorpe, VolkerFitzpatrick’s development director
“The completion of the runway work represents the first major upgrade to be delivered by the programme and to have such a complex project delivered some three months early in the challenging context of 2020 cannot be under-estimated.”
– Wing Commander Pete Beckett, director of RAF Lossiemouth’s development programme
“The completion of the runway works months ahead of schedule is a testament to the hard work and collaborative attitude of everyone involved in the project, whether from DIO, VolkerFitzpatrick, RAF Lossiemouth or one of the sub-contractors. The runway resurfacing and associated works, such as installing new drainage and airfield lighting, will see the runway life extended by up to 25 years.”
– Russ Liddington, DIO’s project manager for the resurfacing works
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