Launched by IEMA in 2019, the awards showcase the achievements of organisations striving to tackle the global challenges of the climate and environmental emergency, celebrating the people and businesses that are transforming the world to sustainability.

Waterman is part of the IEMA Digital Steering Group and has been working alongside WSP, Mott MacDonald, Arcadis, Atkins, ERM, Arup, AECOM, Royal HaskoningDHV, Quod, Sweco, Jacobs, Capita and Barton Willmore, to explore how digital practices and emerging technologies can be incorporated into the development impact assessment process.

The judges commented that the Group is: “A great collaboration between 14 consultancies to deliver an improvement in best practice and consistency for sector.”

The Digital Steering Group’s first step was to release a Primer in March 2020. The Primer defines what Digital Impact Assessment (Digital IA) is, why it is needed, and outlines how digital tools and technology – such as unmanned aerial vehicles, geographic information systems, mobile mapping, virtual reality and remote sensing – could be utilised to provide data for impact assessments. This was an important step in setting out the challenges and opportunities associated with Digital IA, informing our industry and generating wider discussion. The Digital Steering Group then went on to prepare the sixth edition of the IEMA Impact Assessment Outlook Journal released in May 2020 which focussed on how Digital IA is implemented in practice.

You can view the full list of winners by clicking here.

Being delivered by Ediston and Orion Capital Managers, this high-quality mixed-use scheme within the city’s New Town Conservation Area will see the demolition of the existing RBS office and data centre buildings. This will accommodate the construction of around 100 new luxury apartments, 200 build-to-rent apartments, 100,000 sq ft of premium office amenities and a boutique hotel.

Working alongside 10 Design architects, RSP Consulting Engineers and project managers, Gardiner & Theobald, Waterman is providing structural and civil engineering input for the scheme, in addition to a variety of specialist services, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), acoustic and geotechnical design, flood risk and drainage. Having delivered the RIBA Stage 2 Concept Design, the team also provided targeted support for the main planning application in Spring 2020.

Surrounded by some of the highest value residential properties in the UK outside of London, our environmental team commissioned an initial socio-economics appraisal which predicted that this vibrant development had the potential to create a market-leading economy generating £34.4 million, including supporting over 700 jobs.

Alongside the redefinition of New Town, the site’s landscaping will be rejuvenated, retaining as many of the existing greenery and open spaces as possible. In a bid to maximise engagement with green spaces, plans are also in place for a pedestrian walkway to link the local park and neighbouring streets.

Sustainable drainage systems are a key component of the overall drainage strategy and our hydrology team are assisting the architects to develop a combined ‘blue and green roof system’ for attenuation and treatment of surface water run-off. A technical solution is also being developed to obtain approval for a ‘build over agreement’ with Scottish Waters, where the scheme sits over an existing sewer which runs from north to south throughout the site.

Elsewhere on the scheme, our structural engineers contributed to the outline design for the main buildings, including the reinforced concrete podium deck that will sit under the office, hotel and residential blocks. We also completed an assessment to determine the feasibility of re-using the existing piles to the RBS office and data centre buildings, which would deliver significant programme and cost savings.

Throughout the demolition and construction phases, we will undertake various transport and access responsibilities, including changes to the traffic flow on local roads and the accessibility of nearby public transport facilities and cycle routes. Our teams will also assess the impact on air quality, noise and vibrations, ensuring the works are carried out sustainably and with minimal effect to the surrounding businesses.

Client: Ediston and Orion Capital Managers
Architect: 10 Design

The school is part of the overall South of Elgin masterplan which aims to create a fully accessible and adaptable community that promotes sports and healthy lifestyles. Pedestrian links throughout the new school have been carefully integrated with the wider masterplan which also includes 2,500 new homes, a new sports centre, a range of community facilities and a new urban edge with enhanced countryside.

Our transport, structures, environmental and civil engineering teams provided consultancy services for the 3,780 sqm development through hub North Scotland on behalf of Moray Council.

The scheme’s design focuses on providing a sustainable school with access to the latest facilities and technology, all within a modern environment. One of the key sustainability targets was to enhance biodiversity and encourage natural habitats on the site, whilst increasing the opportunity for pupils to have greater contact with nature. To encourage outdoor learning, the development includes an external roof terrace and plant deck area along with a covered external classroom and a wetland area featuring aquatic and wetland meadow planting.

The outside play areas include a sand pit, a secure area for ASN pupils, an allotment and a multi-use games area (MUGA). The school’s external space also accommodates 40 car parking bays, together with 33 cycle spaces and 10 scooter spaces to encourage active travel.

Client: hub North for Moray Council
Architect: JM Architects

Historic underground coal mining has left a legacy of old workings on the site. More recently, major open cast mining activities have taken place there up until 1998 when restoration of the open cast areas was completed.

Waterman was appointed to be Principal Designers for this new town on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Our team also completed a desk-based Shallow Mining Assessment, which consisted of a review of all available information from historical ground investigations. This information was published by The Coal Authority and included abandonment plans, large scale Environmental Geology Maps, mining memoirs and pertinent information from the former open cast operations. This desk-based assessment was produced using a complex and conceptional 3D ground model.

This 3D model was used to inform an appropriate scope of a Mining Stability (Intrusive) Investigation, and this then supported the scheme’s risk assessments and established the baseline for the extensive site-wide remediation and monitoring. On completion of the Mining Stability Investigation, our specialists prepared a Geotechnical Appraisal of the mining risk, which underpinned the detailed design of remedial works.

Client: Hargreaves Services plc
Architect: EMA Architects