OCL Breaks Ground on Ford Major Regeneration Project at Former MOD Airfield
OCL is delighted to announce the commencement of its latest secured project in Ford, West Sussex, delivered in partnership with Vistry Group.
The landmark development will transform a former MOD airfield into a thriving new community comprising 1,500 affordable homes, alongside a new care home, primary school and local centre. The scheme benefits from a total circularity approach, regenerating waste materials from the donor area on site into a valuable resource all within the immediate vicinity of the working compound area.
Once complete the scheme will create a sustainable and well-connected neighbourhood that will support the long-term growth of the area.
As part of the enabling and infrastructure works including in-situ stabilisation preparing the site compound area, OCL is utilising its specialist PLANE > PROCESS > PAVE recycling technique to repurpose the existing concrete runway into a high-quality hydraulically bound material (HBM) subbase. Currently removing over 250mm of concrete from the initial 6,000m² first phase.
The innovative process allows the existing runway materials to be recycled and reused directly on site, significantly reducing waste, vehicle movements and the demand for imported aggregates.
The recycled HBM subbase will be incorporated across the site compound and spine roads, delivering both environmental and programme efficiencies for the wider development.
Using advanced in-situ stabilisation and processing methods, OCL’s team has been able to maximise material recovery while accelerating the delivery programme. The approach demonstrates the practical application of sustainable construction techniques on large-scale regeneration projects, helping clients reduce embodied carbon, cost and improve overall project efficiency.
The screening process below transforms the millings into a 0/32 aggregate, separating larger material from fine for use as the base layers. The fine material is transformed to the next stage of the process and mixed to create the subbase aggregate layer before transferred to the paving area to be installed on site using traditional laying methods.
The Ford development represents another significant project win for OCL and further reinforces the business’ expertise in delivering innovative, sustainable infrastructure solutions for complex regeneration schemes across the UK.
Works are now underway on site with further project updates to follow as the development progresses over the coming months.
