Groundworks and external infrastructure, from site clearance to surfacing
External works are often the least glamorous part of a refurbishment and the most disruptive if they’re badly planned. We take responsibility for the whole external package – clearance, excavation, foundations, drainage, service trenches, surfacing, and utilities – and sequence it around occupiers, access routes, and the internal programme. Our teams work to approved designs or develop them with your consultants, manage waste and materials responsibly, and deliver yards, roads, and car parks that are properly constructed, correctly drained, and ready for heavy daily use. One contractor, one programme, no gaps between the building and the ground around it.
Our Groundworks & Infrastructure services
Site clearance & preparation
Clearing and preparing sites for new works or redevelopment: removal of redundant structures, slabs, hardstanding, and vegetation, breaking out and crushing materials for re-use, grading and levelling, and setting up site compounds, access, and welfare. We manage waste streams responsibly with full documentation, and can coordinate surveys, service tracing, and asbestos removal ahead of the main works so the site is genuinely ready when construction starts.
Foundations & groundworks
Excavation, foundations and substructure works for new openings, plant bases, mezzanines and external structures. We construct strip, pad, and raft foundations, ground beams, retaining walls, and reinforced concrete slabs, working to structural engineers’ designs and carrying out compaction and testing as required. For industrial refurbishments this often means new bases for dock levellers, roller shutter openings, sprinkler tanks, and plant enclosures delivered in step with the building works above.
Drainage & sewage systems
Foul and surface water drainage, from repairs and relining of existing runs to complete new systems. We install pipework, manholes, interceptors, attenuation tanks, and soakaways, carry out CCTV surveys and jetting, and connect to public sewers under the relevant approvals. Properly designed drainage protects yards from flooding, satisfies planning and environmental requirements, and stops small problems becoming expensive ones.
Car parks & external surfacing
Construction and resurfacing of car parks, service yards, and hardstanding in tarmac, concrete, and block paving. We build up from sub-base to wearing course, install kerbing, edging, and drainage channels, and finish with line marking, signage, bollards, and EV charging bays where required. For heavy-use industrial yards we specify and construct surfaces built to take HGV loading day after day.
Roads & accessways
New and upgraded estate roads, access routes, turning heads, and loading aprons for industrial and commercial sites. We design and construct to the required loading and specification, manage levels and drainage so water goes where it should, and phase works to keep occupiers’ vehicles moving throughout. Includes footpaths, crossings, barriers, and the interface with the public highway.
Utilities & infrastructure
Service trenches, ducting and the installation or diversion of utilities – electricity, gas, water, telecoms, and data in – coordination with statutory undertakers. We provide external lighting, CCTV and security infrastructure, EV charging supplies, and the ducting that future-proofs a site for whatever comes next. Everything is recorded on as-built drawings so the next contractor knows exactly what’s in the ground.
