Place St Maur des Fosses
Project Overview
PVR Contracting Ltd helped transform Place St Maur des Fossés from a rundown central area into a vibrant and accessible public space, forming the first stage of the wider Bognor Regis regeneration programme.
Delivered for Ground Control Ltd and Arun District Council, the £1.3 million Levelling Up Fund project created a distinctive new public realm incorporating interactive fountains, water play, high-quality paving, sustainable drainage, raised planters and infrastructure for community events.
The works were delivered under a JCT Intermediate Building Contract with Contractor’s Design. LUC, represented by Alex Massey, provided the landscape architecture input.
Construction commenced in January 2022. Substantial completion was achieved in July 2022, allowing the new public space to open for the summer holidays, with the remaining finishes completed in September 2022.
Scope of Works
Construction of an interactive fountain and water play area
Installation of underground tanks to collect, manage and reuse water
Construction of a dedicated water-management and drainage system
Installation of patterned paving designed to replicate the appearance of a beach
Use of specific impervious paving to direct water into the collection and reuse system
Installation of slot drainage to protect the water play area from surrounding surface water
Creation of sustainable drainage system planters
Construction of raised brick planters
Installation of pop-up power supplies to support fairs, markets and community events
Laying paving using Instarmac bedding and jointing materials
Construction of an above-ground pump chamber enclosure using stone-filled gabions and a green roof
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Ground Control Ltd / Arun District Council
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Civil engineering and public realm works contractor
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Civil Engineering, Public Realm
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£1.3 million
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January 2022 to July 2022 substantial completion, with final completion achieved in September 2022
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Central town-centre public realm space
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Place St Maur des Fossés, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Highlights & Key Benefits
Transformed a rundown town-centre area into a vibrant, accessible public space
Reduced the tender value from £1.6 million to the available £1.3 million budget through value engineering
Created a water-efficient play space using underground collection, drainage and reuse systems
Provided flexible infrastructure for fairs, markets and community events
Project Delivery Challenges & Solutions
Fixed summer opening: Changed unavailable coloured macadam to resin-bonded surfacing over macadam, allowing the space to open in July 2022
Underground constraints: Managed multiple buried services and former structures through investigation and CBR testing
Imported paving: Carefully coordinated the single available delivery from the Netherlands to protect the programme
Public access: Sequenced the works to maintain north-to-south pedestrian access throughout construction
Community Engagement
Maintained north-to-south public access throughout the works to minimise disruption
Achieved substantial completion in time for residents and visitors to use the space during the summer holidays
Installed pop-up power supplies to support future fairs, markets and community activities
