Groundworks

Building Strong Foundations 

Established in 1998, Aqua Construction has earned an outstanding reputation for delivering high-quality construction projects throughout the Southwest. To strengthen its service offering and provide greater control over quality, programme and cost, the company launched its dedicated Groundworks Division in 2014.

What began with a single excavator and dumper has grown into a highly experienced specialist division with a modern fleet of more than 20 machines, including 12 excavators, eight dumpers and three telehandlers, supported by the latest technology and equipment.

Today, Aqua Groundworks delivers comprehensive groundworks and civil engineering services for developers, housing associations, local authorities, commercial clients and private customers across the region.

Technical Expertise from the Ground Up

Groundworks form the foundation of every successful construction project. Aqua Groundworks provides a complete package of enabling works, taking projects from initial site preparation through to final external works.

Our experienced team includes both Contracts and Groundworks Managers, Site Supervisors, CPCS-qualified machine operators and skilled operatives, all supported by ongoing investment in training, plant and health and safety.

The division specialises in:

• Site clearance and enabling works
• Earthworks and bulk excavation
• Foundations and substructures
• Piled foundations and reinforced concrete ground beams
• Retaining walls
• Beam and block flooring
• Reinforced concrete floor slabs
• Deep drainage and infrastructure
• Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
• Section 38, Section 278 and Section 104 adoptable works
• Roads, footpaths and external works
• Landscaping and fencing

Working alongside specialist piling contractors, the team has extensive experience delivering complex piled foundation solutions, reinforced concrete ground beams and suspended concrete flooring on challenging sites.

Delivering Challenging Projects

Over the past decade, Aqua Groundworks has successfully delivered infrastructure and groundworks packages on a wide variety of residential developments, from constrained city centre brownfield sites to large greenfield housing schemes.

Every project presents unique engineering challenges, and our experienced team combines technical expertise, modern equipment and practical problem-solving to deliver safe, efficient and programme-driven solutions.

Recent Project Experience

Across our housing developments, Aqua Groundworks has undertaken:

Roads and Infrastructure

• Adoptable and private estate roads
• Tarmac, permeable tarmac and block paving
• Section 38 and Section 278 highway works

Drainage

• Deep drainage excavations
• Stormwater drainage systems
• Attenuation tanks
• Hydrobrakes
• Balancing ponds
• Section 104 adoptable drainage
• Foul drainage and treatment plants

Substructure Works

• Strip, pad and slab foundations
• Reinforced concrete ground beams
• Substructure masonry to DPC
• Beam and block flooring
• Reinforced concrete floor slabs

Retaining Structures

• Reinforced concrete retaining walls
• Masonry retaining walls
• Timber sleeper retaining walls

External Works

• Block paving
• Patio construction
• Fencing
• Soft landscaping

Engineering Excellence in Challenging Conditions

Northgate Street, Gloucester

A constrained city centre development on a site of significant Roman archaeological importance.

Working alongside Gloucester City Archaeologists, excavation works were carefully supervised to preserve historic remains while delivering specialist piled foundations, reinforced concrete ground beams and suspended ground floor slabs above the archaeological features.

Sherborne Street, Gloucester

A complex brownfield regeneration project within an occupied residential area adjacent to a primary school.

The project involved demolition of existing flats, on-site material recycling, removal of buried obstructions, unstable ground conditions, deep drainage excavations and piled foundations with cast in-situ reinforced concrete ground beams supporting a cantilevered suspended ground floor. The team deployed one of only two specialist piling rigs of its kind in Europe to construct 14-metre-deep piled foundations. Protective casings were used throughout the excavation process to safeguard Gloucester’s significant archaeological heritage while enabling the development to progress safely.

Watery Lane, Newent

A 40-home residential development requiring a significant sustainable drainage solution on a restricted-access site.

To satisfy Severn Trent Water requirements, Aqua Groundworks constructed a 300,000-litre attenuation tank within a 5.5-metre-deep excavation on sloping, unstable ground and in close proximity to neighbouring properties. The project required careful sequencing, temporary works and strict safety controls throughout.

Investing in Quality

Continuous investment in people, plant and technology enables Aqua Groundworks to deliver projects safely, efficiently and to the highest standards.

This commitment to excellence has contributed to Aqua Construction receiving industry recognition, including:

• Local Authority Building Control Regional Award (West of England) 2025 – Best Small Social Housing Development.
• Gloucestershire SoGlos Business Awards 2025 – Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year.

Looking Ahead

As Aqua Groundworks continues to grow, our focus remains unchanged: delivering safe, reliable and cost-effective groundworks solutions while building long-term partnerships with our clients.