A multidisciplinary RSK team representing 14 RSK businesses and 16 separate disciplines is supporting the redevelopment of Fort Halstead in Sevenoaks, Kent. Complex brownfield redevelopment The project is a complex brownfield redevelopment project that will create a new 635-home community, including a mix of private residential properties, public open space, commercial employment units and a primary school. Ancient semi-natural woodland (some 1600 individual trees) and the existing Fort Halstead (a scheduled ancient monument), as well as other historically important buildings, will be retained, with the fort converted to create a historic interpretation centre, capturing the site’s history. CS2 Chartered Surveyors, an RSK company, is project-managing the work to prepare the site for the client, Barratt David Wilson Homes Kent (BDW), with RSK companies contributing to this over a two-year period. CS2 Director and Fort Halstead Project Management Lead Paul Crowe said: “RSK began supporting BDW in November 2023 through pre‑acquisition due diligence, with activity intensifying following acquisition in September 2024. The project is now in the demolition and enabling phase, being delivered by the appointed contractor Soilfix, delivered alongside heritage, ecology and civil engineering design to ensure progress is carefully managed in an exceptionally sensitive and operational environment. Under the RSK approved Material Management Plan the development will be reusing some 48,000m3 of soil during the enabling works phase with the intention to reuse up to a further c80,000m3 during the construction phase. Wide stakeholder landscape with single point of control Paul said: “Fort Halstead brings together an unusually wide and active stakeholder landscape, including defence‑related partners, residents and office occupiers remaining on site, statutory bodies and the local community. Our role is to provide a single, trusted point of control that allows all parties to operate safely and confidently while enabling the project to move forward. “By integrating demolition, remediation and design, we are managing risk at every stage, protecting nationally important heritage assets, safeguarding ecology and maintaining day‑to‑day site operations. That coordinated approach gives clients, regulators and stakeholders assurance that change is being delivered responsibly, transparently and with minimal disruption.” Remediation, controlled demolition along with safe and appropriate material reuse Paul said the works include remediation of buildings to be retained, controlled demolition of redundant structures, remediation of contaminated ground, safe and appropriate material reuse and recycling, and preparing serviced parcels ready for construction. “This is about more than enabling development, it is about creating certainty on a complex site, maintaining trust with stakeholders and laying the foundations for sustainable delivery. For clients managing estates with historic uses, ongoing occupation or security sensitivities, the strength of RSK lies in our ability to bring multiple disciplines together under one management structure, allowing complex schemes to progress safely while respecting the people, history and environment already in place. When the site is handed over to BDW at the end of our project work it will be ready for the team to start work on the construction of the new housing development.” Range of multidisciplinary RSK companies delivering the project work RSK companies supporting BDW and delivering project work include:- RSK Geosciences Operations Director Darren Beesley said the size, history and complex nature of the site, including the previous military research use, made for a challenging and fascinating project that draws on a range of disciplines and services provided by RSK Group businesses. Military use dates back to 1890s as part of London Defence Scheme He said the team’s research revealed that military uses began on the site in the 1890s, when it was part of the London Defence Scheme, with the fort constructed between 1895 and 1897. Darren said: “When the London Defence Scheme ended in 1906, Fort Halstead was retained as an ammunitions store, with a laboratory and new buildings added, until it passed into private hands in the 1920s. It was bought by the War Office in 1937 and built up during the war years. Until recently, it was home to the Ministry of Defence’s, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, which carried out research into explosives and weapon systems. The site also had its own fire station and a petrol filling station. Site covers 70 hectares with 18 hectares earmarked for development “Challenges associated with a project of this nature include the sheer size of the site, which covers an area of some 70 hectares with about 18 hectares earmarked for development, the number of buildings to be demolished and historically important buildings that will be retained. The complex nature of the project recognises the site’s historical uses, the need for demolition and sustainable and carbon-efficient remediation, to deliver a safe development platform, minimising waste soils and maximising materials reuse, along with an emphasis on protection of heritage assets, protecting the ancient woodland and enhancing ecology and biodiversity on site.” Non-intrusive and intrusive ground investigation Darren added that pre-demolition ground investigation was completed in December 2024, which included the combined use of non-intrusive geophysical investigation and intrusive investigation at over 300 locations across the site, giving a 25 m borehole spacing in accessible areas where development is proposed. “The approach taken included the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to visualise and interpret the vast amount of data we collected. This has provided a detailed understanding of the site to support foundation and remediation design, reducing the need for over-excavation of materials during the development phase, minimising wastes generated, providing a more sustainable development. Further investigations are ongoing alongside demolition and enabling work being undertaken by the contractor Soil Fix. Results from the additional inspections will be used to inform final remediation design.” The ground investigation project was shortlisted for two 2025 Ground Engineering magazine awards: Ground Investigation Project of the Year and UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of between £500,000 and £1 million. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Taylor Wimpey North West is bringing forward plans for a new residential development of 58 homes in Lancaster, with the acquisition of land for its Beaumont Rise development taking place on 30th  June. Located off Slyne Road, Beaumont Rise will deliver 58 homes, comprising a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes designed to support a range of buyers, including first-time buyers, families and downsizers. The development has received full planning permission and work on the development is expected to take place later this week.  Beaumont Rise will also include public open space, landscaped green areas, pedestrian links throughout the development and a range of energy-efficient features. Existing landscape features across the site are expected to be retained and enhanced as part of the plans. As one of the UK’s largest homebuilders, Taylor Wimpey has more than 100 years of experience delivering homes and communities across the country and has built more than one million homes since its foundations were established. Taylor Wimpey is also recognised as a five-star homebuilder by the Home Builders Federation, based on customer satisfaction scores from homeowners. Gavin Powell, Sales Director at Taylor Wimpey North West, said: “We’re pleased to be taking the next step towards bringing Beaumont Rise to Lancaster. “As Taylor Wimpey enters the area, we want to engage with local residents and stakeholders and ensure people feel informed as plans progress. “Our ambition is to create a new neighbourhood that meets local demands for new homes and provides a well-connected place to call home.” Residents interested in following the progress of the development can find more information and register for updates via the Beaumont Rise webpage.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A former 19th-century dyeworks near Huddersfield has been successfully transformed into a sustainable residential development following the completion of complex engineering works led by Dudleys Consulting Engineers. The Royd Edge Mills development delivers 30 new homes, ranging from two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached properties, while breathing new life into a historic brownfield site with industrial origins stretching back to the late 1830s. Originally established as a textile mill drawing water from Royd Edge Moor via Thick Hollins Dyke, the site later became a thriving dyeworks before eventually falling into disuse. Following decades of decline and the demolition of the former industrial buildings, the redevelopment presented a series of significant engineering and construction challenges. Extensive below-ground investigations uncovered remnants of historic foundations, former basements, wheelhouses, engine rooms and underground chimney structures, alongside areas of quarrying, steep bedrock and an intricate network of historic watercourses. These conditions required careful planning and innovative engineering solutions before construction could begin. Dudleys Consulting Engineers was appointed to provide civil and structural engineering expertise across the project, delivering designs for the development’s foundations, drainage infrastructure and structural solutions for both the houses and apartment buildings. Working closely with the wider project team, the consultancy developed a revised site-level strategy incorporating a combination of shallow trench, deep trench and piled foundation systems to suit the varying ground conditions. The approach enabled efficient connections to existing adopted drainage while delivering an effective surface water management solution. One of the project’s most significant engineering achievements involved reconfiguring the former mill pond. Rather than constructing a substantial retaining wall to manage flood risk, the team redesigned the landscape by cutting back the pond, reducing the risk of leakage and creating a more practical, attractive and sustainable solution. This approach not only improved the visual character of the development but also increased usable garden space, enhanced natural landscaping and reduced off-site material waste. New woodland walkways have also been incorporated, helping integrate the development into its surrounding environment while encouraging biodiversity and providing attractive outdoor spaces for future residents. Andy Walker, Managing Director of Dudleys Consulting Engineers, said the project demonstrated how innovative engineering could unlock difficult brownfield sites while delivering environmental, commercial and community benefits. Adam Howarth of Royd Edge Mill Developments added that the engineering solutions had enabled the complex site to be developed efficiently while respecting its industrial heritage and creating lasting value for the local area. The Royd Edge Mills project demonstrates how collaborative design, sustainable engineering and intelligent site remediation can successfully regenerate former industrial land, transforming challenging brownfield sites into high-quality residential communities while preserving the character and legacy of their historic setting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals