Case Study
Station Inn Hotel and Pub
Nestled in the Yorkshire Dales next to the picturesque Ribblehead Viaduct, is the Station Inn—a 4-star hotel and pub that’s been serving locals and visitors alike since 1879. It caters to guests of all kinds, offering a range of accommodation types, including en-suite hotel rooms, pitches of camping and caravans, and its hostel-style ‘bunk barn’.
Demand for its great food, comfy accommodation, and beautiful surroundings continues to grow, creating an opportunity for the Station Inn to expand. As a result, its management began planning to create four new guest rooms at the pub, each with a double bed and en-suite shower room.
OUR ROLE
Thomas Consulting were commissioned to provide site investigation services and drainage design to support the client with its planning application.
To do this, our Civils and Structural teams worked together to develop the drainage and structural designs for the new accommodation.
Challenges
The existing land was undeveloped and therefore the outflow rates for the drainage had to match Greenfield values in accordance with local planning policies. Following best practice guidance in the SuDS Manual, various sustainable drainage options were considered to manage the surface water.
Site investigations showed that the land was suitable for infiltration, hence an underground, geocellular soakaway tank was chosen as the most cost efficient and sustainable option for this site..
As there are no public sewers in the area, the existing package treatment plant was utilised to treat the additional foul waste from the new accommodation units. Once treated, clean water was directed into existing drainage field, that would allow the treated water to percolate into the landscape.
Utilizing the existing drainage features on site provided cost savings to client and reduced the amount of construction time required on site.
The site is located in a rocky region of the Dales, with a shallow soil profile. This, combined with the varying levels on site, meant complex concrete foundation and bespoke retaining wall designs were required.
The aim was to limit the depth of digging to reduce the requirement to excavate hard rock, hence reducing the construction costs.
To achieve this, the foundation slab was designed to be flush with the base of the retaining wall. 3D modelling software was used to aid in the design and visualization of the structure.
SUCCESSES
The design provides a practical and sustainable solution that supports the successful delivery of the new accommodation while aligning with planning requirements. By adopting an infiltration-based drainage strategy, the scheme achieves compliant Greenfield runoff rates and minimises environmental impact.
The integration of existing on-site infrastructure, including the package treatment plant and drainage field, reduces construction complexity and delivers cost efficiencies for the client.
Carefully considered foundation and retaining wall designs respond effectively to the challenging ground conditions, limiting excavation into hard rock and optimising buildability. The use of 3D modelling has further enhanced coordination and design clarity, ensuring a well-resolved solution that can be delivered efficiently on site.
