The Football Foundation

Following our continued involvement in delivering ground investigations for The Football Foundation, we are thrilled to support them in 2024, delivering geotechnical consultancy and site investigation services on their new PlayZone framework across England. This adds to our current involvement with the Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) framework, and we are delighted to continue to grow our long standing relationship.

The Football Foundation is a charitable organisation supporting the Premier League, The FA and Government to deliver outstanding grassroots sports facilities and transform local communities.

The new PlayZone scheme, has been set up to provide safe, inclusive, and accessible outdoor sports pitch facilities that bring communities together through recreational football and sport. Sites are targeted within communities with the greatest need to deliver new or refurbished spaces that enable priority groups to be more active.

Assessing potential ground risk at the sites is one of the first steps to determining viability of a PlayZone development. We initially assess each site through a desk-based approach, prior to carrying out intrusive site investigations. By critically assessing each site, we can recommend and carry out the most cost-effective method of investigation whilst still obtaining information sufficient to inform detailed design by the independent contractor. Accordingly, investigations can range from a few simple hand pits to deep boreholes.  

Appropriate investigation is critical to allowing projects to be de-risked as far as possible in the early stages of design, allowing contractors to accurately tender construction works and deliver projects on time and on budget.

How We Can Help

At Soiltechnics, our expert geotechnical consultancy and site investigation services can help de-risk your project, ensuring timely and successful delivery.

Get in touch at enquiries@soiltechnics.net today to find out how we can support you.

Trenchless crossings allow the installation of critical infrastructure without causing disruption to existing roads and railways or environmental disturbance to rivers for example. Could you imagine excavating a trench across a motorway to install electricity cables?!

Trenchless crossing methods can be split broadly into two categories:

• Directional Drilling: Drilled from the surface on a downward arc trajectory to the surface on the other side of the obstacle being crossed.
• Microtunneling: In a horizontal line between two shafts or pits.

Support From Soiltechnics

Soiltechnics’ Geotechnical Consultancy team can offer support throughout the life of the project.

An initial phone call to discuss projects is normally enough for us to provide a high-level feasibility assessment and identify key ground-related constraints. We follow this with a detailed desk study and ground investigation to confirm conditions at the crossing location. Finally, we design the crossing profile.

From Aberdeen to Bognor Regis, we have supported the delivery of trenchless crossings, beneath a variety of critical infrastructure, including motorways, oil pipelines, railways and rivers.

Each project has a unique set of challenges, including shallow groundwater, UXO potential and blowing sands, to name a few.

Maintaining Safe Operations

As part of the design, we undertake a Ground Movement Assessment to estimate likely settlement beneath existing infrastructure (roads, rails, pipes) and where applicable a damage impact evaluation.

For directional drilling, we also model the potential for frac out during the drilling process.

Working alongside the main contractor and providing technical design support, our team successfully delivered technical approval from governing bodies, including National Highways and Network Rail.

The support continues throughout construction by reviewing daily monitoring, which is typically required.

At Soiltechnics, our team can help you navigate complex ground conditions to ensure your trenchless crossing project runs safely and smoothly.

Get in touch at enquiries@soiltechnics.net to discuss your trenchless crossing requirements in more detail and to learn more about the services we provide at Soiltechnics.