Polypipe Terrain eases pressure on UK’s tallest residential complex

Polypipe Terrain, the UK’s leading manufacturer of waste and water management systems, is to help to complete the UK’s tallest residential complex.

The Kent-based firm will supply ventilation, drainage, soil and waste systems to the colossal £385 million Deansgate Square development in Manchester city centre.

The 2.7-acre site will comprise 1,508 luxury apartments and across four high-rise blocks, including the 200m, 65-storey South Tower – the UK’s tallest residential building, surpassing the 50-storey St George Wharf Tower in Vauxhall, London, which stands at 181m.

The complex, which was designed by award-winning architect Simpson, Haugh and Partners, will include a 20m indoor swimming pool, performance studios, a three-storey underground car park, indoor tennis court, 1,900sqft gym, leisure suite, residents’ lounges and relaxation areas. It will be capped off with a rooftop garden with a private bar and catering facilities.

Main contractor Renaker selected Terrain to design the vent piping. Polypipe devised a system that incorporated its exclusive P.A.P.A. (positive air pressure attenuator) and Pleura Vent system, which work in harmony to regulate air pressures within pipework and eliminate the need for a secondary vent.

Jonathan Greenwood, technical sales manager at Polypipe Terrrain, said: “The height of the development posed a unique challenge for the designers. The drainage stacks throughout the building had to manage huge amounts of pressure so a robust solution was required. Polypipe Terrain was able to supply a system that limited the pressures placed on the base of the stacks.

“By installing P.A.P.A. valves we were also able provide the developer with significantly more space in each individual apartment within the tower.”

Terrain also provided FUZE HDPE drainage stacks to minimise cost, installation times and resources, and a tailored PVC piping system. The stacks also have fewer joints to reduce the risk of leaks.

Andy Moss, director at MWA Ecosystems, which installed the system, said: “Polypipe Terrain was not only able to provide superior products and services, it also offered greater design freedom. We were able to reduce the amount of space, time and labour needed to deliver a drainage system suitable for such a prestigious development.

“The company had a solution for every challenge typically associated with a demanding project of this nature.

“We very much look forward to further enhacing our relationship with Polypipe Terrain and working with the company on future projects.”

Deansgate Square is due to be completed in 2021.