30 SCD mini-piles and a 154m² RC raft slab for a new commercial dairy building in Riseley, Berkshire. London Clay ground and nearby mature trees demanded a piled foundation — delivered on programme and budget.
Our team delivered the piled foundation for a new dairy building at Village Maid Cheese in Riseley, near Reading. The award-winning cheesemaker needed a larger production facility, requiring a robust foundation on a rural site with mature Hybrid Black Poplar trees within the zone of influence.
The site investigation at Riseley revealed non-shrinkable sandy clay in the upper 1.5m, underlain by London Clay. Although the near-surface soils were favourable, the presence of significant trees at 21m from the building footprint and the expected shrinkable clay at depth made a piled solution the right choice for long-term structural stability.
We installed 30 Steel Cased Driven (SCD) mini-piles at 150mm diameter, each driven to firm bearing in the London Clay. Safe working loads ranged from 70kN to 160kN across the pile layout, with all piles reinforced with 2H16 rebar cages. Every pile was set-tested on site to confirm bearing capacity before the slab pour.
The 154m² reinforced concrete raft slab was cast at 250mm thickness using C28/35 grade concrete, completing the foundation for the new dairy. The building inspector praised the quality of workmanship, and the entire project was delivered within four weeks from mobilisation to handover - on programme and on the original quote.
Complete technical breakdown of the piling and foundation works delivered at Riseley, Berkshire.
Sandy Clay over London Clay
C28/35 DC-2
Slab: 154m², 250mm RC
4 weeks
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We work from the drawings and site information you have, then recommend a suitable piling method for your project - not just the one we happen to have available.
The cost-effective solution for extensions and new builds. Our 750mm wide rigs access tight spaces while delivering high load capacity (up to 400kN) for residential and commercial projects.
High-capacity continuous flight auger piling for commercial developments. Fast installation (10-20 piles/day) with minimal noise and vibration. Ideal for urban sites requiring loads up to 2,000kN.
The specialist solution for low headroom and internal works. Operates in just 2.4m height, so we can pile inside existing buildings and below mezzanine floors without compromising capacity.
Steel cased driven piles for contaminated, wet, or unstable ground. The displacement method creates zero spoil, eliminating hazardous waste disposal costs while ensuring a dry, sealed casing for concrete.
Rapid, dry installation with immediate load capacity. No concrete, no curing time, and minimal ground disturbance. Ideal for eco-friendly builds, temporary structures, and working near trees.
Complete reinforced concrete packages including ground beams, pile caps, and rafts. We handle the piling and the concrete works together, delivering a finished base ready for your builder.
Three offices across the region means we're genuinely local to your project - not a distant company sending rigs across the country.
Extensions, new builds and commercial foundations across London and the South.
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Real feedback from homeowners, contractors, and structural engineers across London and the South.
4.9Google Reviews"What can I say, the team were a pleasure to deal with from start to finish. My wife and I did a fair amount of due diligence... Our experience was that they seemed to go the extra mile. A shout out to Barrie the project manager but of course not forgetting Lenny and Baz who worked tirelessly throughout. And a special thank you to Ben Crabb - right from our first conversation, you proposed options and were so helpful and informative."
"A really nice family business that we couldn't recommend more highly. We had a 14m x 11m foundation concrete slab with mini piles completed within their estimation of 4 weeks... The building inspector said he wished all his clients were up to their standards! From my many phone calls with Ben from the outset through to Ricky, Barrie and Shane (3 brothers) they are all so friendly and helpful."
"What a breath of fresh air to deal with a company that exceeds all of your expectations. From my first contact with Barrie in the office to the two hardworking men, Dan and Lenny who carried out the job, I have been so impressed with their professionalism, capability and friendliness. Thank you for a job 'very well done'."
"We chose them for our extension. The sales person Ben was extremely helpful with his comments and always available to discuss matters and never missed a call back. Ricky the project manager explained what was happening throughout the procedure with phone calls and I must mention Rachel for any issues we had. Overall very good job done."
"What can I say, the team were a pleasure to deal with from start to finish. My wife and I did a fair amount of due diligence... Our experience was that they seemed to go the extra mile. A shout out to Barrie the project manager but of course not forgetting Lenny and Baz who worked tirelessly throughout. And a special thank you to Ben Crabb - right from our first conversation, you proposed options and were so helpful and informative."
"A really nice family business that we couldn't recommend more highly. We had a 14m x 11m foundation concrete slab with mini piles completed within their estimation of 4 weeks... The building inspector said he wished all his clients were up to their standards! From my many phone calls with Ben from the outset through to Ricky, Barrie and Shane (3 brothers) they are all so friendly and helpful."
"What a breath of fresh air to deal with a company that exceeds all of your expectations. From my first contact with Barrie in the office to the two hardworking men, Dan and Lenny who carried out the job, I have been so impressed with their professionalism, capability and friendliness. Thank you for a job 'very well done'."
"We chose them for our extension. The sales person Ben was extremely helpful with his comments and always available to discuss matters and never missed a call back. Ricky the project manager explained what was happening throughout the procedure with phone calls and I must mention Rachel for any issues we had. Overall very good job done."
"What can I say, the team were a pleasure to deal with from start to finish. My wife and I did a fair amount of due diligence... Our experience was that they seemed to go the extra mile. A shout out to Barrie the project manager but of course not forgetting Lenny and Baz who worked tirelessly throughout. And a special thank you to Ben Crabb - right from our first conversation, you proposed options and were so helpful and informative."
"A really nice family business that we couldn't recommend more highly. We had a 14m x 11m foundation concrete slab with mini piles completed within their estimation of 4 weeks... The building inspector said he wished all his clients were up to their standards! From my many phone calls with Ben from the outset through to Ricky, Barrie and Shane (3 brothers) they are all so friendly and helpful."
"What a breath of fresh air to deal with a company that exceeds all of your expectations. From my first contact with Barrie in the office to the two hardworking men, Dan and Lenny who carried out the job, I have been so impressed with their professionalism, capability and friendliness. Thank you for a job 'very well done'."
"We chose them for our extension. The sales person Ben was extremely helpful with his comments and always available to discuss matters and never missed a call back. Ricky the project manager explained what was happening throughout the procedure with phone calls and I must mention Rachel for any issues we had. Overall very good job done."
We adhere to the highest industry standards for safety, quality, and environmental management.
Construction Plant Competence Scheme. Ensuring our operators meet the highest standards of safety and skill.
The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme. Demonstrating compliance with risk management standards.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme. Our site team carry CSCS cards, proving the training and qualifications behind the work they do on site.
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