Lowestoft Station Canopy Refurbishment Works

Client: Greater Anglia

Value: £255,000

Duration on site: 18 Weeks

In August 2023 Capel CS were invited to tender the Canopy refurbishment package at Burnham-on-Crouch and Lowestoft Stations for Greater Anglia, following the tender evaluation Capel CS were notified in November 2023 that they had been successful in securing both packages.

Thecanopy refurbishment works at Lowestoft Station consisted ofremoving the protective coatings to the cast iron spandrels and inspecting them for defects, removing the protective coatings to the ornate Corbel members built into the building brickwork at the base and tips of the cast iron spandrel members and repair or renew as required. Remove the top flat board edging to the perimeter of the top of the canopy and replace this with GRP units.

To carry out brickwork repairs to the fractured and displaced brick units to the arched lintel and further areas identified following the initial surveys, strip off the roof coverings and timber edge trims including adjoining lead flashings, fascia’s, strip out ceiling soffit boards and substructure ceiling supports to expose the underside.

Repair or replace as required the T&G base boards to accept the new roof covering. Replace the canopy waterproof system with EPDM type high performance membrane. Recover set aside Lowestoft station letters on either end for re-fixing on completion and install new signage to the station frontage.

Replace fascia’s, mouldings and the underside soffit with GRP components,prepare, prime and apply finish coats of paint to all areas as required, paint systems and colour to be as per Greater Anglia’s Design guide. Inspect canopy box drainage guttering and replace or repair, including all associated downpipes (cast iron down pipes and guttering). Allow for the provision of a roof access man-safe fall arrest system including certification.

Due to the requirement for the station to remain operational, during this project, the works were segregated in order to facilitate day time working which will limit hindrance to the station staff and members of the general public.

Capel CS mobilised along with the design team early January 2024, completing the initial design surveys for the development of the Form G design for the permanent works and the Form C design for the access Scaffold and temporary works. The surveys completed included: – Architectural Survey, Structural Survey, Asbestos Survey, Redundant Cabling Survey, Lead Paint Survey and Spandrel Structural survey.

An Additional Canopy Assessment with Report and Calculations was completed, following the identification of various defective transverse timbers and internal timbers within the roof space, the design was developed to include replacement and repair to these defective components.

A traffic management plan was developed with applications made to the local authority for a half road closure to enable the access scaffold to be erected and dismantled safely.

The designs were reviewed by Greater Anglia through the IDC / IDR process, with final approvals received prior to Capel mobilising on site on 25^th March 2024.

The traffic management plan was implemented and the access scaffold was erected around the structure, the scaffold was double boarded and with polythene sheeting and debris netting, an access tunnel was incorporated through the centre of the scaffold to maintain access along the public footpath.

The canopy was then completely stripped including the roof covering, box gutter, flashings, fascia’s, timber soffits and the timber deck. The cast iron spandrels were stripped along with the stone corbels. Defective timbers were matched (grade &species) and replaced both externally and internally with equal sized timbers. The replacement of the transverse timbers introduced temporary works being installed to provide support to the cast iron spandrels.

The canopy was then reinstated to include new timber decking, new box gutter, GRP fascia, mouldings and soffit boards. The canopy then received an EPDM roof membrane system which extended through the box gutter to seal the canopy surface. New cast iron downpipe and hoppers were installed to discharge into the existing surface water outfalls.

Brick and stone repairs were completed across the elevation, including brick replacement, brick tinting, repointing and stone repairs, the remedial works were completed using plastering sand, portland cement and hydrated lime.

The cast iron spandrels and timber components were redecorated in heritage colours following consultation with Railway heritage, to give the canopy a more period appearance in keeping with the age of the station building.  A mansafe system was installed over the canopy to provide a means of safe access for future inspections, the station signage was reinstalled to complete the contracted works in mid July 2024.

Pre-Construction Photos

Progress Photos

Completion Photos