Geotechnical & Environmental Expertise Across Birmingham
Birmingham’s long industrial history and continued regeneration create a varied range of geotechnical and environmental considerations for development.
Previously developed sites can contain made ground associated with former factories, engineering works, transport infrastructure, commercial premises and other historic land uses. Depending on the site history, further investigation may be required to assess contamination, ground gas or geotechnical conditions before redevelopment.
Ground conditions also vary across Birmingham and the surrounding area. Site-specific investigation can establish soil strata, groundwater conditions and engineering properties relevant to foundation design, drainage, earthworks and construction.
Former mining activity can also be relevant in parts of the wider West Midlands and Black Country. Where the site’s location or history indicates a potential risk, further assessment may be required before development.
Key areas of expertise include:
- Phase 2 Site Investigations: Intrusive investigations used to establish ground conditions and investigate potential contamination identified during an initial Phase 1 Desk Study.
- Trial Pits: Used to investigate shallow ground conditions, existing foundations, made ground and buried obstructions, with samples collected for laboratory testing where required.
- Window Sampling: A compact investigation technique particularly useful on restricted urban and brownfield sites, providing soil profiles and samples while allowing monitoring installations where necessary.
- Borehole & Drilling Investigations: Used where deeper geological or geotechnical information is required for foundation design, groundwater assessment or investigation of potentially unstable ground.
- Soil & Environmental Testing: Laboratory testing can assess the engineering characteristics of soils and identify contaminants that may present risks to people, buildings, controlled waters or the wider environment.
- CBR & Plate Bearing Testing: On-site testing to assess ground performance for roads, hardstanding, working platforms and other construction applications.
We support projects throughout Birmingham city centre and the surrounding areas, including Edgbaston, Harborne, Selly Oak, Digbeth, Aston, Erdington, Sutton Coldfield and neighbouring parts of the West Midlands.
