Site clearance contractors
Site Clearance Contractors in London & the South East
Site clearance is the removal of structures, materials, debris, obstructions and vegetation to leave a site safe, accessible and ready for its next use. It typically covers breaking out and removing what is left on the ground, clearing overgrowth, loading and carting away the material, segregating it for recycling, and handing back a clear site.
- Debris & overgrowth removedRubble, structures and vegetation cleared
- A clear, accessible siteReady for groundworks or the next trade
- Registered waste carrierSegregated · transfer notes
- Small sites from £800Fixed price after a free survey
Need a site cleared before the next stage? We survey it, agree the scope and give you a fixed-price quotation. We reply to every enquiry within 24 hours.
Request a Free Site SurveyWhat's involved
What Does Site Clearance Involve?
Site clearance is about getting a site from its current state to a clean starting point for whatever comes next. What that means in practice depends on what is there now. After a demolition it may be broken slabs, rubble and the last of the structure. On a redundant or brownfield site it can be old buildings, hardstanding, fencing, overgrown vegetation and years of accumulated material.
Whatever the starting point, the work follows the same logic. Structures and obstructions are taken down or broken out and vegetation is cut back and cleared. Material is sorted as it is loaded, so recyclable streams such as metals, hardcore, timber and green waste are kept apart from general waste. Everything is removed under duty of care. The site is then left level and accessible, ready for the groundworks team or the main contractor.
Clearance is planned like any other site work. Access for plant and lorries, neighbours, ground conditions and any signs of contamination are assessed at the survey, and contaminated material is assessed and priced separately rather than loaded with general waste.
When you need us
When Do You Need Site Clearance?
After demolition
Once the structure is down, the remaining arisings, slabs and obstructions have to go before groundworks can start.
Brownfield, redundant & overgrown sites
Former commercial or industrial plots and land left unused often carry old buildings, hardstanding, scrub and accumulated material that must be cleared before redevelopment.
Live construction sites
Clearing debris and surplus material between phases keeps a site safe and the programme moving.
Before groundworks or a sale
A cleared site is easier to survey, price and build on, whether you are starting work yourself or preparing it for a buyer.
The difference
Site Clearance, Waste Clearance or Demolition?
The three are closely related and often happen on the same project, but they are different jobs.
| Service | What it deals with | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition | Standing buildings and structures | When a building has to come down |
| Site clearance | Everything left on the ground: rubble, slabs, obstructions, vegetation, redundant structures | Before groundworks, redevelopment or sale |
| Waste clearance | Construction and strip-out waste already generated by works | During or after a project, to remove accumulated waste |
Site clearance compared with waste clearance and demolition
Demolition
- What it deals with
- Standing buildings and structures
- When it is used
- When a building has to come down
Site clearance
- What it deals with
- Everything left on the ground: rubble, slabs, obstructions, vegetation, redundant structures
- When it is used
- Before groundworks, redevelopment or sale
Waste clearance
- What it deals with
- Construction and strip-out waste already generated by works
- When it is used
- During or after a project, to remove accumulated waste
If a building is still standing, the project starts with demolition. If the waste has already been generated by other trades and simply needs removing, waste clearance is the better fit. Site clearance sits between the two, turning a cluttered site into a clear one.
Vegetation
Clearing Overgrown Land and Vegetation
Overgrown plots are common on sites that have sat unused for a few years. Scrub, brambles and self-seeded growth can hide hazards such as old foundations, voids, fly-tipped waste and buried obstructions, so clearing vegetation is usually the first step towards understanding what a site really contains.
Two legal points shape when and how vegetation is cleared:
- Nesting birds. It is an offence to damage or destroy an active bird's nest, so vegetation clearance during the main nesting season, broadly March to August, needs checking first. GOV.UK's guidance on wild birds explains the protections.
- Invasive plants. Species such as Japanese knotweed must not be spread and need specialist treatment rather than ordinary green-waste removal. GOV.UK's guidance on stopping Japanese knotweed from spreading covers the rules.
We plan clearance around both, so the work is done lawfully and does not create a bigger problem later.
Recycling
What Happens to Cleared Material
Most of what comes off a cleared site can be reused or recycled if it is kept separate. Brick and concrete can be crushed and reused as hardcore, metals go to recycling, timber and green waste are separated, and only what cannot be recovered goes as general waste.
We segregate material as it is loaded, target 95% or more diverted from landfill, and remove every load under the waste duty of care as a registered waste carrier, with waste transfer notes supplied. Good segregation is better for the environment and often for the budget too, because recyclable streams can cost less to dispose of than mixed waste.
How it works
Our Site Clearance Process
Site survey & scope
We walk the site, look at access, ground conditions, what needs clearing and any signs of contamination or protected habitat, and agree the scope before preparing a fixed-price quotation.
Planning & RAMS
We plan access, plant and waste routes, check timing around nesting birds where vegetation is involved, and prepare risk assessments and method statements under CDM 2015.
Clearance & segregation
Structures and obstructions are broken out, vegetation is cleared, and material is loaded and separated as the work proceeds.
Level site & handover
Remaining material is removed with full paperwork, the site is left level and accessible, and it is handed over ready for the next stage.
Ready to get started?
Need a Site Cleared?
Tell us what's on the site and what comes next. We'll survey it and give you a fixed-price quotation.
Free site survey · Fixed price · Segregated waste with full paperwork
Why choose us
Why Choose Us for Site Clearance
Clearance as part of a joined-up programme
Clearance, soft strip and enabling works are carried out in-house, with demolition and groundworks available, so a site can go from occupied building to prepared plot with one contractor.
Responsible waste handling
Segregation at source, a 95%+ landfill diversion target and full paperwork from a registered waste carrier.
Lawful vegetation clearance
Timing and methods planned around nesting birds and invasive species.
Fast mobilisation
Once the scope is agreed, local projects can often start within a few days.
We work to CDM 2015 with RAMS on every job, hold £10m public liability and employers' liability insurance, and our operatives are CSCS and CCDO trained.
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 Does Site Clearance Cost?
Site clearance typically costs £500–£1,500 per day. Small sites start from around £800 and larger sites from around £2,500. A small commercial site clearance usually costs £1,500–£4,000, depending on volume.
| Project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Small sites | From around £800 |
| Larger sites | From around £2,500 |
| Small commercial site clearance | £1,500 – £4,000 |
| Day rate | £500 – £1,500 per day |
Site clearance guide prices
Small sites
- Guide price
- From around £800
Larger sites
- Guide price
- From around £2,500
Small commercial site clearance
- Guide price
- £1,500 – £4,000
Day rate
- Guide price
- £500 – £1,500 per day
The main factors are the size of the site, the volume of material, access, any contamination risk, and how much of the material can be recycled rather than sent to landfill. Suspected contamination needs assessing before material is moved, as set out in the Environment Agency's land contamination risk management guidance, and contaminated or hazardous material is priced separately.
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
Site Clearance FAQs
How much does site clearance cost?
Do you clear overgrown land and vegetation?
What happens if contaminated material is found?
Do you remove concrete slabs and hardstanding?
How quickly can you clear a site?
Still have questions about your project?
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Tell Us About Your Project
Complete the short form below and our team will contact you to discuss your demolition or site preparation requirements.
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Get Your Site Cleared
Whether it is the aftermath of a demolition, an overgrown plot or a cluttered construction site, we will clear it safely and lawfully and leave it ready for the next stage. Tell us about the site, attach any photos or plans, 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.