Roger Bullivant Limited (RBL) has been working closely with CCG Scotland Ltd to deliver technically challenging, sustainability led regeneration projects across Scotland. Most recently, projects at Powerhall, Edinburgh and Spoutmouth, Glasgow have highlighted how early engagement, positive working relationships and engineering expertise lead to successful outcomes on urban developments.
These projects highlight RBL’s ability to support CCG in various sectors while overcoming difficult ground conditions, sensitive requirements and stakeholder needs.
Powderhall, Edinburgh: protecting live infrastructure through bespoke piling design
RBL was contacted by CCG to provide a bespoke piling solution for a mixed-use regeneration residential project in Powderhall, Edinburgh. This project would provide housing for older residents and a new Early Learning and Childcare Centre, a great development in this area.
What made this project particularly complex was a live Scottish Water Main that ran partially under the site, around 15 metres below ground level. This needed to remain operational whilst the works were carried out.
RBL worked closely with CCG and the project engineers, Narro Consulting, to develop a piling solution designed to remove risk to the live service whilst also maintaining programme certainty.
RBL’s Solution
RBL developed a hybrid piling approach, installing 193mm and 244 diameter Driven Steel Tubular Piles to depths between 13.0m to 18.0m in the areas where bedrock was encountered and minimal vibration overburden drill and case piles nearby to the water main.
Where piles were located above the service, RBL installed 273mm diameter sacrificial casing down to bedrock before forming 240mm diameter rock sockets and casting the piles, preventing vibration and movement to the live main.
Careful monitoring took place throughout the works, confirming no effect on the water main. The pile performance was then verified through static load testing, providing confidence to the client and also Scottish Water.
Spoutmouth, Glasgow: engineering around archaeological constraints
RBL was selected to deliver a piling solution for a social housing development on a former car park for CCG Scotland Ltd. Archaeological investigations shows that remains of Glasgow’s earliest suburbs 4.5 metres below current street level. Therefore, the site was excavated and backfilled, presenting a challenge for foundation design.
RBL’s Solution
To overcome these challenges, the RBL team designed and installed 185 No. 300/600mm diameter Continuous Helical Displacement (CHD) Piles, installed into the underlying medium dense sands and gravels and firm clays beneath the backfill.
This solution allowed pile loads to be transferred efficiently whilst accommodating the varying pile depths, minimising ground disturbance due to it being a displacement solution and working safely within a site influenced by historical excavation activity.
Static load testing was completed to ensure pile performance and validate the design.
Early engagement delivering repeat success
The success of these projects was down to the early engagement between RBL and CCG, as the team was able to identify and manage technical risk, develop site‑specific piling solutions, accommodate site constraints and support sustainable, energy‑efficient developments.
As CCG continues to deliver high-quality projects across various sectors in Scotland, the RBL team looks forward to continuing this partnership and support schemes in the future.
