‘Lakeside’ scheme applauded

Coleraine’s Lakeside development, at the former Spittal Hill quarry site on the Bushmills Road, was highly commended in the sustainablity category at the Placemaking Awards.

The unique project, described as one of the most unique and visionary civil engineering projects ever attempted in the UK, has transformed the 42-acre redundant quarry into a modern housing development with a lake, which was formed using water that had been pumped out of the site.

Spittal Hill Quarry had been in existance since the 1830’s as a small basalt rock quarry.

Operations at the quarry expanded in the 1960’s as demand for aggregate increased.

The stone was then used to produce asphalt and concrete blocks.

The unique ‘Lakeiside’ project saw the conversion of that 42 acre quarry site, which included the 50 metres deep quarry to accomodate modern housing.

It commenced back in 2009, and to date there are 35 homes at the site. It is estimated that there will be over 400 homes upon completion, in ten years time.

The development was designed by Alan Patterson Design from Belfast and developed by Farrans.

Farrans engaged with the community at all stages of the project.

They spoke with local schools and community groups and held open days at the site, educating the public on the environment aspects of the scheme.

The existing quarry cliff face is the backdrop of the whole development.

And the lake, which was formed as part of the project, uses water that was pumped out of the site. It is estimated that nearly 50,0000 lorry loads of imported fill has been used at the site.

According to Alan Patterson Design the project demostrates its environmental credentials through its ‘engineering initiative and excellence’ in the re-use of the redundant basalt quarry to meet present day housing needs

. It was revealed that the project was achieved without harm to the established wildlife habitats.