Persimmon Homes Cardea Sports Pitch Construction

Persimmon Homes are currently building 1200 new houses as part of their Cardea development in Stanground, Peterborough. To accompany the project Persimmon are providing outdoor sports facilities for the new residents. Fineturf were awarded the contract to construct these facilities which consist of 8,700m2 of natural sports pitches, 14,000m2 of landscaped surrounds and a 500m2 multi use games area.

We commenced work in July 2013 and are pleased to announce the construction phase of the project is complete. Throughout the next 12 months we will maintain the grass pitches and monitor their progress ready for the official handover next summer.

The site was sprayed and flail mowed to remove any existing vegetation and 500m3 of topsoil was stripped and stockpiled. We were then ready to set the site levels and carry out cut and fill to the subsoil.

The next phase included de compaction of the subsoil, laser levelling and topsoil replacement from the stockpile. For this project 1700 tons of additional high quality topsoil was imported which was graded, de compacted and again laser graded.

Although a drainage system had been previously installed we also recommended the implementation of a secondary drainage system that would comprise of sand slits cut at 1m centres. These 400mm deep and 50mm wide trenches were backfilled with sports sand.

The surrounding areas and banks were shaped and married into the pitches using subsoil from the site; finally these were topped with a 100mm layer of topsoil.

Final ground and surface preparation was completed using a Blec Rotor Rake. During this stage a 12mm layer of sports sand was spread over the main pitches, which were once again laser graded. A 14:6:8 fertiliser was applied at 40gm2 and MM60 sports seed sown, in 2 directions at 60gm2.

The multi use games areas (MUGA) would be used for 5 a side football and basketball and was line marked accordingly. Following the excavation of the area concrete edging was laid and lateral drains installed. A geotextile membrane was laid and a layer of type 1x stone which was laser graded. A layer of 20mm porous macadam was installed as a base course and 6mm macadam as a wearing course. Finally an anti slip coating was applied prior to line marking.

During the project we also erected 3m high fencing to the perimeter of the MUGA and floodlights.