A premium foundation and site enablement project in Drayton Bassett. Tilsley Groundworks managed the marking out, excavation, concrete pouring, and spoil removal for a large luxury home, delivering a precision-engineered base ready for block and beam flooring.
Precision Groundworks for Premier Locations
Executive Summary
Drayton Bassett is an area synonymous with high-value, bespoke residential property. For a developer operating in this tier of the market, the quality of the groundworks sets the tone for the entire build. If the foundations are out of square or the levels are incorrect, every subsequent trade faces delays and increased costs. In 2021, our developer client required a partner who could deliver absolute accuracy for a large, complex residential footprint. The project was not a simple "dig and pour" exercise. It required a technical understanding of modern flooring systems—specifically the requirement for a clear void beneath a block and beam structure—and the logistical capacity to handle significant earth movements. Tilsley Groundworks was selected because we control the critical variables. We own the excavators to dig the hole, we own the wagons to move the earth, and we supply the concrete to fill the trenches. This integrated approach offers developers a single point of responsibility and a guarantee that the site will be ready for the bricklayers exactly when promised.
Integrated Site Enablement and Logistics
The tilsley Solution
Our solution focused on efficiency and flow. On a confined residential site, managing the spoil is often as critical as digging the trench. If the excavated earth is stockpiled on-site, it restricts movement and creates hazards. Because Tilsley Groundworks operates its own transport division, we implemented a "load and go" strategy.
As our excavators stripped the topsoil and dug the subsoil to formation level, our tipper lorries were rotating in and out of the site to cart the material away immediately. This kept the footprint of the large house accessible for the engineering team and the concrete pumps. We worked in tandem with the client's structural engineer to transfer the drawings from the plan to the ground, ensuring that every corner and load-bearing wall was marked out with millimetre accuracy before a single bucket of clay was removed.
Excavating for Block and Beam Systems
Technical Implementation
The technical scope of this Drayton Bassett project was defined by the specific requirements of the flooring system.
Phase 1: Levelling and Marking Out
Before foundations could be dug, the site required "reducing" to a level plateau. We used laser-guided excavators to scrape the site to the agreed datum level. Once level, our engineers pinned out the foundation lines, double-checking diagonals to ensure the large footprint was perfectly square—a vital step for the masonry teams who would follow us.
Phase 2: The Void Excavation
Modern "Block and Beam" floors require a ventilated void beneath them to prevent damp and allow for potential ground movement (heave). We excavated the "oversite" area between the foundation trenches to a specific reduced depth. This is a precision task; go too deep and you waste money on extra substructure; go too shallow and the floor beams won't fit. Our operators graded this void surface perfectly, ensuring it was clean and ready for the installation of the telescopic air vents and sleeper walls.
Phase 3: Concrete Formation
With the trenches excavated and inspected, we managed the concrete supply. We coordinated the delivery of the ready-mix concrete, placing it directly into the trenches. Our groundworkers levelled the wet concrete to the exact "top of concrete" formation level required by the bricklayers. This attention to detail eliminates the need for excessive mortar beds or engineering brick adjustments later in the build.
A Solid Start for a Luxury Build
The Results
The project was a textbook example of professional residential groundworks. By 2021, the developer had a site that was clean, level, and structurally ready for the next phase of construction.
The complex requirement for the block and beam void was met without issue, and the site was free of the mountains of spoil that typically plague large basement or foundation digs. By using our own transport to cart away the muck, we saved the client the cost and administration of hiring third-party grab lorries or skips. Tilsley Groundworks delivered the project on schedule, proving that for large-scale houses in prestigious locations like Drayton Bassett, we are the foundations partner of choice.
