Frequently Asked Questions

How is the project going to be funded?

Sky Vault is seeking charitable status, with the bulk of the project to be privately funded. Initial contributions from private companies and organisations have come in the form of time, skills and resources. Money needs to be raised to take Sky Vault through the feasibility and build stages, to completion. The fundraising strategy will focus on private contributions and partnerships to deliver these stages. Find out how you can help...

Is there a way to be updated about the progress of the project?

You can register to our mailing list to received regular updates about progress and Sky Vault events. Sign up now!

How can I or my company support Sky Vault?

Sky Vault is for the people of the East Midlands and the project team welcomes offers of support from individuals, organisations and private companies. Financial assistance is required. But support for Sky Vault can take many different forms. Find out how you can get involved...

How does it stand up?

The Sky Vault landmark is made out of thin steel cables (about 18 millimetre diameter) woven together in a large net. The cables are connected at regular intervals (every metre) using steel clamps and work together to create a vast curved surface known as a cable net structure. The cable net is supported at its both ends by steel arches spanning across the motorway. The large front arch which is 150 metres long, spans 100 metres and is itself stabilised by tie cables connected to the ground. The back arch is wider and spans 60 metres (slightly larger than the motorway itself) and acts as a footbridge across the highway. Although the cable net covers a very large surface - as big as a football pitch - it is extremely lightweight and could be easily prefabricated and transported on site. Many cable net structures have been built in the world but the Sky Vault will be the first large scale example in the United Kingdom.

Will it be a distraction to drivers?

Safety is of paramount importance to the Sky Vault team; the project will be designed and constructed in a way that minimises risks and enhances road safety. Driver inattention is an important consideration, and if correctly sited and designed the Sky Vault project might actually help to prevent accidents by keeping drivers alert.

In an interview with the Leicester Mercury, Rob Maynard, spokesman for the RAC, said that the Sky Vault could even provide a mental stimulus for motorists: "It's easy to lose concentration when you're driving on the motorway. Anything which makes you look and gives you a bit of a mental jolt isn't a bad idea. [..] Drivers will be able to see it from a long way off anyway." (Leicester Mercury, 10/12/02)

In the same article, Simon Woodings, spokesman for the AA, said: "There is nothing to suggest that these landmark structures cause accidents. You are more likely to be distracted by signs and pedestrians when you're driving around the city centre." (Leicester Mercury, 10/12/02)

Safety will of course form an important part of the rigorous Highways Agency approvals process that Sky Vault will go through.

Where is it going to be built?

Five potential homes for Sky Vault are currently under consideration.

When is it going to be built?

It will take quite a long time to plan the building of the Sky Vault - years rather than months. We think it is more important to get a project like this right than to rush it. When the planning is completed, the construction process should be very quick indeed, as almost all of the components can be made in a factory and just put together on site. Have a look at the timeline of the project to find out about the progress to date and completion dates of the different phases of the project. If you are interested in receiving occasional updates on the Sky Vault's progress by email, you can sign up to our mailing list.

Will construction of the Sky Vault cause traffic disruption?

One of the important parts of the project will be to minimise disruption during construction of the Sky Vault. We will use components which have been prepared in the factory and which are quick and easy to join together on site, this will reduce the construction time to a minimum. We will also try to programme the construction period in with planned maintenance, so that we don't get any extra disruption than with normal roadworks.

Is it going to be expensive/difficult to maintain?

The detailed design of the Sky Vault will ensure that maintenance is easy and cheap. The materials will be chosen to last - for example the cables will be made of stainless steel, which does not rust. The lighting will be designed so that it too needs minimal maintenance, using low-energy and long-lasting lighting devices such as LEDs. The openings in the cable net will be about one metre wide, so any wind-blown rubbish should pass straight through.

Will the landmark create light pollution?

Sky Vault will be designed to minimise light pollution. Our intention is to use low energy Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on the cable net; these have the advantage of being highly concentrated and directional, so that light can be focussed downwards on to the road surface. This will minimise light spillage whilst ensuring that, when viewed directly from the road itself, the lights have sufficient contrast with a dark sky to be visible. We take the issue of light pollution very seriously and have been in discussion with the Council for the Protection of Rural England and the Dark Skies Campaign, and will use the recommendations of the Institute of Lighting Engineers on minimising light pollution as part of our design brief for the lighting scheme. In short, we aim to make this project an example of best practice in the lighting of outdoor structures.

What about the Highways Agency?

Agreement in principle to allow the building of the Sky Vault structure over a motorway or trunk road is being sought from the Highways Agency as the Highway Authority for the roads in question. Discussions are ongoing on matters including driver safety, buildability and maintenance.

Who designed the Sky Vault landmark?

Sky Vault was designed by 2hD, a Nottingham-based design company created by Tom Hughes, Alina Hughes and Thibaut Devulder.