RBL installs over 1,200 precast piles for Lovell Newark scheme

Roger Bullivant Limited (RBL) is progressing with the installation of more than 1,200 precast concrete piles at the Balderton Rise housing development in Newark, working in partnership with national housing specialist Lovell. The project is part of a wider transformation of a former brownfield site into a community of over 300 homes.

This phase of the development comprises 102 plots and features RBL’s in-house designed precast foundation system. More than 1,200 Driven Precast Concrete Piles—sized at 200mm and 250mm and driven to an average depth of 10 metres—are being installed alongside over 4,200 metres of RBeam, RBL’s precast ground beam system.

Manufactured using low-carbon concrete with a 50% Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) replacement, the system significantly reduces embodied carbon. The piles are also cast in segmental lengths to minimise site waste and support modern methods of construction.

Nathan Sale, pre-construction manager at RBL, said: “Our work for Lovell highlights the benefits of our precast foundation systems, offering speed, cost-efficiency, and sustainability in one package. We’ve delivered a solution that meets ground conditions, supports programme requirements, and adds real value to our client.”

Balderton Rise is being delivered in phases to align with Lovell’s construction schedule. The site’s mixed ground conditions—Made Ground, Sand and Gravels, and shallow Mudstone—made driven precast piling the most suitable solution, eliminating the need for on-site concrete pours and reducing spoil.

Beth Bundonis, regional managing director at Lovell East Midlands, said: “Our Balderton Rise development is transforming a former brownfield site with huge potential into a brand-new community. Progress on site is going strong, and further funding has also recently been announced from the East Midlands Combined County Authority, helping this flagship development go from under-used old factory land to more than 300 new affordable and open market homes.”

Piling is being carried out using a single rig, with consistent daily outputs supporting smooth transitions into superstructure works. The RBeam system is also helping to maintain project momentum by enabling rapid handovers to follow-on trades.

RBL’s foundation systems continue to set the benchmark for low-carbon, high-performance ground engineering in UK housing and infrastructure, offering developers a fast and sustainable route to groundworks delivery.