Client: Ministry of Justice

Scope: 30-space car park, street lighting and 4 EV charging points

Environment: Live operational site

Shanco delivered a new 30-space car park at HMP Hatfield, complete with integrated street lighting and four EV charging points, while working alongside other live projects within the facility. The scheme was designed to increase parking capacity, support electric vehicle use and improve site infrastructure, all while maintaining safe access and keeping disruption low across an occupied environment.

The Project

The Ministry of Justice required a new car park at HMP Hatfield to increase vehicle capacity for staff and visitors and to support its move towards more sustainable site infrastructure. Alongside the parking area itself, the scheme included new street lighting, EV charging points and drainage measures to manage surface water within the site.

Shanco worked with the Ministry of Justice facility management team, the design consultants and the main contractor from the outset to plan the works and agree a safe delivery strategy for a live environment next to an existing car park.

The Brief

The brief was to deliver a new 30-space car park with lighting and EV charging provision on a live site, with works taking place next to an operational parking area and alongside other activity within the facility. The programme had to protect access, maintain safety for staff and visitors, and manage surface water across the new paved area.

Shanco was also required to support the design process through early site investigation and prepare the area for construction in line with the project requirements.

The Challenges

The main challenge was delivering the scheme within a live operational setting, where safety, access and site coordination were key throughout. As work took place next to an active car park, the team had to plan each stage to reduce disruption and keep surrounding areas safe for both site personnel and the public.

Drainage was another key issue. The site needed a solution that would control water levels and deal with heavy rainfall, with runoff directed towards an existing dyke. Existing services also required careful handling, particularly where new ducting had to connect back to the substation in an area containing high-voltage cables.

How Shanco Delivered

Following a full site survey and assessment, Shanco arranged and managed CBR testing across the area so the design team could develop the car park build-up and pavement design. The team then assisted with the installation of fixed steel fencing panels around the perimeter to secure the work area before construction began.

Once permits and approvals were in place, Shanco carried out the reduce level dig. Part of the excavated material was retained and reused to form a swale at one end of the site, creating a route for excess water to discharge towards the existing dyke. To manage rainfall within the new parking area, the car park was designed to act as an attenuation system. After the new perimeter kerb line was installed, permeable Type 3 stone was placed as part of the build-up.

Shanco then excavated and installed new street lighting ducting and cast in-situ concrete duct chambers. Existing services were exposed using the correct procedures, and excavation near the substation was completed by hand due to the presence of high-voltage cables supplying the facility. The bases for the EV charging points were installed during this stage.

To complete the scheme, the team laid the permeable tarmac surface, carried out white lining and installed crash barriers to improve safety within the new parking area.

Outcome

The completed scheme provided HMP Hatfield with a new car park that increased parking capacity and improved access for staff and visitors. The addition of EV charging points and new street lighting gave the site a more modern and practical parking area while supporting the wider move towards lower-emission vehicles.

The drainage design also gave the site a controlled way to manage surface water, reducing the risk of standing water and helping the new car park perform as intended. The works were delivered within a live environment, with safe working practices and site coordination in place throughout.