Groundworks contractors
Groundworks Contractors in London & the South East
Groundworks are the work done in the ground to prepare a site for building: excavation and reduced digs, foundations, below-ground drainage and connections, and concrete slabs, sub-bases and hardstanding. They follow demolition and site clearance and come before the main build, so the structure starts on a sound, level base.
- Ground problems dealt with firstNot discovered mid-build
- Excavation to slabFoundations, drainage & hardstanding
- Safe, supported excavationsCDM 2015 · CPCS/NPORS operators
- £15–£45 per m³ excavatedPackages from £2,500
Need the ground ready for your build? We survey the site, agree the groundworks package and give you a fixed-price quotation. We reply to every enquiry within 24 hours.
Request a Free Site SurveyWhat's included
What Do Groundworks Include?
Every building stands on its groundworks. Before a new house, extension or commercial building can go up, the ground has to be dug to the right levels, foundations cast to carry the structure, drainage laid to take water away, and slabs or hardstanding formed to build on and work from. Getting this stage right avoids expensive problems later, from cracked slabs to drainage that does not fall.
We carry out four areas of groundworks, individually or as one package:
- Excavation and reduced digs, taking the site down to formation level and removing the spoil.
- Foundations, including strip and trench-fill foundations and ground beams, built to the engineer's design.
- Below-ground drainage: pipework, manholes and connections, laid to the approved drainage design.
- Slabs and hardstanding: concrete slabs, sub-bases, driveways and yards.
Each package is agreed at the site survey, because ground conditions, depth, access and the volume of spoil all shape the work.
When you need us
When You Need Groundworks
After demolition
Once the old building and its foundations are cleared, groundworks prepare the plot for the new structure.
New builds & extensions
From a single-storey extension to a new house or commercial unit, groundworks provide the foundations, drainage and slab.
Driveways, yards & hardstanding
New or replacement driveways, service yards and parking areas need a proper sub-base and concrete or hardstanding laid to fall.
Drainage upgrades & new connections
New drainage runs, manholes and connections, whether for a new building or replacing failed drainage.
Services in detail
Our Groundworks Services in Detail
Excavation and Reduced Digs
Excavation takes the site down to the levels the design needs, whether that is a trench for a foundation or a whole plot reduced to formation level. Spoil is loaded and removed as the dig goes on, with clean material kept separate where it can be reused. For basements and deeper digs under existing buildings, our dig out service covers excavation, underpinning and tight-access muck away.
Foundations
We construct strip and trench-fill foundations and ground beams to the structural engineer's design. The foundation type depends on the ground and the building: clay soils, nearby trees and made ground can all change what is needed. Foundations must meet the Building Regulations, including Approved Document A on structure, and building control normally inspects the excavations before concrete is poured.
Drainage
We lay below-ground drainage, including pipework, manholes and connections, to the approved drainage design, set to the correct falls so it works for decades rather than months. Drainage is covered by Approved Document H of the Building Regulations and is inspected and tested by building control. A new connection to a public sewer also needs the approval of the local water company before it is made.
Slabs and Hardstanding
We form concrete slabs, sub-bases, driveways and service yards on a properly compacted base, with reinforcement and membranes as the design specifies and surfaces laid to fall so water drains away. For front driveways, it is worth knowing that covering more than 5 m² of a front garden with an impermeable surface normally needs planning permission unless the water drains to a permeable area within the property.
Safety
Safe Excavation
Excavations are one of the most significant risks on any groundworks site. Trench collapses, buried services and people or plant falling in are all avoidable with the right planning. The HSE's guidance on excavations sets out the controls, and we build them into every job:
- Locating buried services before digging, using utility records and cable detection, so live services are not struck.
- Supporting excavations where the depth and ground conditions require it, rather than relying on the trench sides to stand.
- Edge protection and barriers to keep people and plant away from open excavations.
- Inspection of excavations at the start of each shift and after anything that could affect their stability.
- Keeping spoil and plant back from the edges so loads do not cause a collapse.
All of this sits within the risk assessments and method statements we prepare under CDM 2015.
How it works
Our Groundworks Process
Site survey and scope
We look at levels, ground conditions, access and the drawings, and agree the groundworks package before preparing a fixed-price quotation.
Design information and RAMS
We work from the engineer's foundation design and the approved drainage design, and prepare risk assessments and method statements.
Excavation and construction
Services are located, excavations dug and supported, and foundations, drainage and slabs constructed in sequence.
Inspection and handover
Work is programmed around building control inspections, and the site is handed over ready for the build.
Ready to get started?
Planning Groundworks for Your Build?
Send us the drawings and we'll scope the package, from excavation to slab, with a fixed price.
Free site survey · Fixed-price package · CPCS/NPORS-carded operators
Why choose us
Why Choose Us for Groundworks
One contractor from demolition to slab
Demolition, site clearance and groundworks can run as one programme, so there is no gap between the old building coming down and the new foundations going in.
Carded operators and the right plant
CPCS and NPORS-carded operators, with suitable excavators, dumpers and breakers for the site, from our own machines and hired-in plant.
Spoil handled properly
Muck away is planned into the package, with material segregated where possible and removed with waste transfer notes.
A fixed price for the package
Every groundworks package is scoped at a free survey and priced before work starts.
We hold £10m public liability and employers' liability insurance and work to CDM 2015 with RAMS on every job.
Client testimonials
What Our Clients Say About Our Work
Google reviews
4.9/5
45+ reviews
Feedback from clients on demolition, strip out and site preparation projects.
“The Strip and Clear guys sorted our soft strip out in Surrey. Came in, stripped the office back to shell, took all the waste away and left it tidy. No messing about. Would use them again.”
James TCommercial Soft Strip “Used Strip & Clear for the demo and site clearance on a job in London. Lads turned up on time, cracked on with the strip and knock down, and got the site cleared properly with the transfer notes sorted. No drama. Good crew.”
Dave M, Site ManagerDemolition & Site Clearance “Strip & Clear Services Ltd handled the dig out and groundworks for us on a site in Kent. Professional team, clear communication and the ground was prepared exactly as agreed. Happy to recommend.”
Sarah Collins, Apex DevelopmentsDig Out & Groundworks
Cost
How Much Do Groundworks Cost?
Excavation typically costs £15–£45 per m³, and groundworks packages start from £2,500. Each package is priced per project once the scope is agreed at survey. The price depends mainly on soil conditions, depth, drainage, foundations, access and the volume of spoil to remove.
These are 2026 guide prices for London and Surrey, excluding VAT. Your fixed price follows a free site survey, and our price guide covers every service.
Frequently asked questions
Groundworks FAQs
What is included in a groundworks package?
Do you design foundations and drainage?
Do foundations need building control approval?
Can you lay a driveway?
How much do groundworks cost?
Still have questions about your project?
Request a free quote
Tell Us About Your Project
Complete the short form below and our team will contact you to discuss your demolition or site preparation requirements.
Get your free quote
Get a Quote for Your Groundworks
Whether it is foundations for an extension, drainage for a new build or a full groundworks package after demolition, we will plan it properly and leave the ground ready to build on. Tell us about the project, attach any drawings, and we will arrange a free survey and a fixed-price quotation.
020 8914 7838Speak directly to our team · Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00
- Safety-first, CDM 2015 compliant
- 24-hour quote response
- Fixed price after a free site survey
Prefer email? Send details or large drawings to hello@stripandclearservices.co.uk.