The ‘Four Great Highways’ project was originally conceived in 2019 as part of a public competition to provide a feasibility study and initial concept designs for key selected areas in Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales. Following this initial study, a subsequent commission was launched in 2022 to review the outline concepts, develop the detail design and take the scheme through to construction. To achieve this, the following consultant team were appointed by the Client, Denbighshire County Council : Burroughs – Lead Consultant (Engineering and Project Management); The Urbanists – Lead Designers and Engagement Specialists ; Dr Paul Stamper - Public Realm Heritage Advice ; Richard Wolfstrome – Providing an Interpretation and Wayfinding Narrative. Since January 2023 the consultant team continued to develop the design to RIBA Stage 4. The design was informed through the following Site Investigations : Topographical Survey, Arboricultural Survey, Drainage Survey and Ground Investigations. Furthermore, Public Consultation (questionnaires and events) was undertaken to gain the public’s opinion of the concept design proposals with the findings being incorporated into the design. The works were split into various areas of Llangollen, these areas and associated works in each area were summarised as follows.

• The Wharf  - New access steps, public realm and landscaping and signage/interpretation

• Lower Dee Mill Park Area 1 - new access ramp and steps, public realm and landscaping and signage/interpretation

• Lower Dee Mill Park Area 2 - new public realm and landscaping, nature play features and signage/interpretation

• Wider Car Parks Signage and Wayfinding

 At The Wharf the works included but wasn’t exclusive to new steel steps and ramp design and install, handrails and balustrades, various surfacing, removal and replacement of bollards, supply and installation of seating benches, bins and pedestrian counters,  supply and installation of a natural welsh slate stone feature wall with laser cut writing / artwork inlaid on a corten /weathered steel plaque, supply and installation of dish channel and associated foundations, uplift and enhance drainage along slope, supply and installation of two way wayfinding totems, installation of red bricked paviours, extensive soft and hard landscaping including tree and shrub planting and seeding and lastly new asphalt surfaces to Abbey Road. As the works were being undertaken adjacent and over the Llangollen Canal, we as the Contractor applied and obtained the necessary consents from the Canal and River Trust.

At Lower Dee Mill Park, similar scope of works were delivered involving new steps to improve access, new surfacing, landscaping, planting and seeding, signage and wayfinders, painted steel fences, new steel ramp structure with its associated skid resistant finishes, drainage channels and main runs, lighting columns removal and relocation, installation of benches and bins, surfacing areas, slate mulch areas, brick paved areas, supply and installation of new footbridge structure, supply and installation of play equipment and the restoration of a drainage sluice gate.

Within the wider car parks within Llangollen, we delivered mainly new and updated signage and wayfinding totems. The project, as with most projects that OBR Construction undertake was largely self-delivered however there are evidently aspects of the scope which we could not deliver in-house such as steel ramp, steps and timber footbridge design and fabrications, various surfaces and as there was considerable soft landscaping involved, this was sub-contracted to Ground-Control. As is evident from the headline at the top of this page, the works were delivered some £60k under budget with no environmental nor health and safety incidences and this was due in no small part to the initial Value Engineering exercise that was instigated by OBR Construction as the Principal Contractor.