RBL installs 1,000 precast piles at Drakelow

Roger Bullivant Limited (RBL) has completed a six-week piling programme for Taylor Wimpey at Drakelow Park, Burton-on-Trent, installing over 1,000 driven precast concrete piles to support 68 new homes.

The contract extends RBL’s long-running work at Drakelow, where the company has already installed more than 7,000 driven piles across multiple phases. Ground conditions at Dracan Village—including made ground, clays and weathered Mercia Mudstone—favoured driven precast concrete piles as the most economical and technically suitable solution.

RBL also deployed its new 5509 driven piling rig, designed in-house to deliver quieter, cleaner and more efficient operations. Factory-made precast piles helped reduce waste, avoid spoil removal through displacement installation, and eliminate curing time, enabling immediate follow-on works and programme certainty.

“This is a continuation of a strong working relationship with Taylor Wimpey,” says Nathan Sale, south central pre-construction manager at RBL. “Our in-depth knowledge of the site, combined with our proven track record here, allowed us to recommend the most cost-effective solution.”

The site has special significance for RBL; Drakelow was once home to the company’s 250-acre head office and manufacturing facility. To date on the wider development, RBL has delivered over 52,700 metres of pile and 24,000 linear metres of RBeam foundations.

RBL says it will continue to support the scheme with efficient, low-disruption foundation solutions and long-term collaboration with housebuilders as further phases progress.