Overview
Our Projects Division, headed up by Dominic Lovelock, delivers multi-disciplinary civil engineering schemes across the UK and Ireland.
We offer a diverse range of geotechnical solutions, as well as broader civil engineering, marine and tunnelling works and have the flexibility to act as a principal contractor, joint venture partner or specialist subcontractor. We work collaboratively with our clients, JV partners and supply chain to overcome complex engineering challenges and actively target projects where our expertise can generate the maximum value for our clients.
From HS2 and Crossrail to the Thames Tideway Tunnel and Lee Tunnel, our Projects Division has a strong track record of completing prestigious and complex construction schemes across all sectors.
As part of the international Soletanche Bachy group, we benefit from the knowledge and experience gained from major infrastructure projects around the world, which strengthens our understanding of complex engineering challenges and the solutions that help drive value for our clients.
Civil Engineering Works
Our geotechnical expertise is complimented by a strong set of civil engineering capabilities. Operating either as a standalone contractor or in joint venture, we have experience in managing and delivering a wide variety of structures with a focus on those below ground, such as retaining walls, storage structures, tunnels, quays and foundation schemes.
We have completed civil engineering works packages on major projects across the UK, from inception right the way through to the final handover. The most recent example of this is the Thames Tideway Tunnel scheme, where we have been working as principal contractor alongside Costain and VINCI Construction Grands Projets.
Our civil engineering capabilities include working platform construction, bulk excavation, reinforced concrete works, pile caps, capping beams and temporary works solutions. In addition to this, we offer offshore and near-shore marine projects, as well as shaft and tunnelling works required for all industry sectors including energy, defence, transport and water.
Supply Chain
We manage a nationwide network of reliable suppliers who bring their expertise, innovation and sustainable outlook to our projects. The strong relationships we have with our supply chain partners have been cultivated over decades of working together to understand each other’s capabilities, requirements and way-of-working. This collaborative approach drives efficiency on a project, by reducing time, cost and risk. On each project, we take on full management of the supply chain, ensuring they continue to meet the high standards and values we set for our partners.
Consents management
Major construction projects often have multiple operations that require consents before and during works. Our Projects Division understands the importance of maintaining strong engagement with all stakeholders on a project to help streamline the consents acquisition process.
We are experienced in managing the consents process, liaising with a range of stakeholders including local authorities, emergency services, the Environment Agency, Network Rail, TFL, port authorities, landowners and public bodies.
Managed consents may cover subjects such as movements via river, rail or road, working hours, spoil disposal, protection of watercourses, working on and adjacent to railway lines, importation of equipment and materials, operational noise hours and supplier delivery times.
Risk Management
All construction projects will contain varying elements of risk, some of which can be reduced or eliminated, whilst others require close management. We work closely with stakeholders to remove as much risk as possible from a project, whether that is in terms of materials, resources, the local environment, human interface or financial impact.
Early involvement is key to identifying and sharing risk on a scheme. Therefore, we strongly prefer to commit time and resources to a project early in its development to be able to provide as much value as possible.
Design and Design Management
Our in-house professionals manage all elements of the design process for permanent and temporary works with a world-leading specialism in geotechnical design.
Working collaboratively with our clients, we can embed our employees into the wider project team, which provides a seamless approach for the consulting engineer and other stakeholders. The integration of our team not only helps to deliver an improved design during the early stages of a project, but it streamlines the overall programme by avoiding any duplication of work.
The value that we bring to the design process is driven by collaboration with our operational and sustainability teams, which ensures our solutions are practical, safe and have considered the impact on local communities and the environment.
Plant Yard and Fabrication
Bachy Soletanche owns one of the largest fleet of piling rigs and ancillary equipment in the UK. We have recently added to this with the purchase of three new piling rigs, including the Fundex F2800 piling rig – one of the most powerful CFA rigs in the UK. This machine has the ability to install CFA piles to a depth of up to 32m and in ground conditions where we previously may have discounted this technique, potentially leading to programme and cost savings on a project.
Our Plant Yard, based in Burscough, fabricates specialist tooling to ensure our clients have the right equipment on their sites. Where required, we have the capacity to set up plant yard facilities located directly on a project site. The most recent example of this was at Tideway where our fabricating team set up a facility to creating equipment on site as and when required.
Located in the north-west of England, the team provide a global service and have completed orders for clients in Europe, North America, South America Asia and as far away as Australasia. We are proud to include many of the world’s leading geotechnical contractors and equipment manufacturers as our regular customers.
Projects Division Team:
Dominic Lovelock
Divisional Director – Projects
Daniel Breukelaar
Business Development Manager
Sophie Vicard
Sivilay Sayavong
UK Engineering Manager
David Hard
Case Studies
Defence Project, England
The overall project aim was to expand an existing building, by constructing an extension, which will be used as part of the wider manufacturing facilities. The 40m x 30m site required a secant honeycomb grid to provide a ground improvement solution with a seismic design capacity. The project team undertook an extensive period of offsite and onsite trials to establish the capacity of interlock between the piles and the settlement implications of the chosen piling techniques.
Lee Tunnel, London
The Thames Tideway Tunnels programme is a key component of the upgrade of London’s combined sewer system. The first section to be constructed is the Lee Tunnel between the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works and the Abbey Mills Pumping Station. In the joint venture collaboration, Bachy Soletanche works included Diaphragm wall shafts, deep excavations and curtain grouting.
Rosyth Dock Yard, Fife
The team facilitated the remodelling of an existing dock entrance through designing and constructing a temporary hard/firm secant pile retaining wall. 300mm diameter secant wall piles were expected to terminate in the top of the Dolerite. Ground anchors were also installed through the existing mass concrete gravity retaining wall to ensure its stability.
Buenaventura Port, Colombia
The port on Buenaventura Bay is a pivotal hub for container, bulk, and general cargo, facilitating trade on major sea routes. It’s tailored for Super Post-Panamax vessels, boasting the country’s largest STS container cranes. Comprehensive geotechnical investigations during design development led to 85% of excavated material being reused through soil improvement techniques.
Tottenham Court Road Station Upgrade
Not only have we faced the challenge of installing diaphragm walling in an urban environment, the project was achieved on time, to budget and next to the busiest shopping street in London. Bachy Soletanche’s works included Diaphragm retaining walls and Geo-thermal piping as part of the joint venture to construct the foundations for the new Western Ticket Hall.