CGA, Jackton

Enabling works including the main spine road and numerous housing pods at the new Community Growth Area in East Kilbride.

Project challenges / GDL solutions

• Soft soils meant that without intervention, many plots would have required piling or other costly foundation solutions.
  • On-site soils were modified to create engineered podiums, allowing traditional foundations. CPT testing confirmed vibro stone columns were suitable in deeper soft zones where excavation wasn’t viable, removing the need for piling and mitigating long-term settlement risks.
• Very wet material would have required excavation and replacement.
  • Soil mixing was utilised to treat very wet material, some with organic pockets, insitu to provide suitable formations for retaining walls, embankments and the new spine road.

Project benefits for the client

• Our approach minimised the requirement for abnormal foundations which in turn both brought significant savings and simplified follow on works for the ground-worker.
• Mass mixing soils reduced the excavation volume of unsuitable soils.
• Minimising export / import brought, cost savings, environmental benefits, less disruption to neighbours and efficiency.