Challenges

Renewable energy 
(case study 1)

The key challenge is time. There are numerous projects ongoing in the country and access to contractor and equipment can be challenging. By going to the market early we believe we have managed to secure contractors, although the expected time frame will be extremely difficult to work with.

The earliest we can get a drilling rig is October, and due to this we have applied to Salix for an extension until the end of the financial year.

Project pilgrim
(case study 2)

A defect, identified by the previous cathedral architect was at the ridge, where the lead was beginning to crack where it was tightly dressed over the ridge. It was proposed therefore to cut along the length of the lead ride to change the detail, to address the defect and to introduce ventilation at the ridge, which is beneficial to the roof and roof space as a whole.

Although this sounds like a minor issue, this provided the key in the beginning to consider the support of a solar PV array on the southern slope of the nave roof. The revised ridge detail provides a perfect secure fixing point for a grid of light-weight metalwork, spanning just about the main roof leadwork and resting on the lead on soft pads towards the eaves.

Watercourse naturalisation work
(case study 3)

Delivering the project through the Covid pandemic has been challenging at times, although fortunately, the outdoor nature of the works has meant contractors have often been able to work socially distanced.

One of the biggest challenges with works to open spaces has been striking a balance between habitat improvements to support biodiversity, and maintaining good amenity use for people. We need to ensure playing pitches are not impacted, and safeguarding plenty of amenity grassland for dog walking and general recreation, whilst still delivering large scale, tangible, environmental improvements.