Residential Piling & Ground Beam Foundations – Rectory Lane, Shenley WD7
This residential foundation project in Rectory Lane, Shenley, Hertfordshire (WD7) was delivered for a returning client and included complete piling and reinforced concrete substructure works for a new house and detached garage.
Ground investigation confirmed challenging strata consisting primarily of Lambeth Group deposits overlying the Seaford Chalk Formation. These conditions required engineered piled foundations to control differential settlement and ensure long-term structural stability.
Piling Works
A total of 65 bored bearing piles were installed across the building footprint. All piles were constructed at 350mm diameter, with founding depths ranging between 9.5m and 12m, depending on structural load zones and variable ground conditions encountered during installation.
Ground Beams & Substructure
Reinforced concrete ground beams were formed throughout the foundation layout, with beam widths varying between 450mm and 800mm. Formation levels were set at approximately 800mm below ground level, coordinated with structural design requirements and service integration strategy.
Structural Slab Construction
The foundation package also included installation of a 200mm thick reinforced concrete structural slab, providing a robust load-spreading base for residential superstructure works. The slab design ensured reliable performance across cohesive soils and chalk interface conditions.
All works were delivered under strict quality control procedures, including reinforcement inspections, pile integrity monitoring and controlled concrete placement to meet structural engineering specifications and UK foundation construction standards.