A 120-plot housing development in Stevenage needed its full utility infrastructure laid ahead of plot starts. Rather than have four separate utility contractors digging four parallel trenches, the principal contractor opted for a single combined trench with services laid in sequence.
We were appointed to deliver the trenching and ducting works, then liaise with the LV, water, telecoms and gas contractors as each came on site to install their services.
What the job involved
- 800m of common service trench dug in phased sections to match the road build programme.
- Multi-utility separation to NJUG spec — vertical and horizontal clearances strictly maintained.
- Duct installation for LV (4-way), street lighting (2-way) and telecoms (4-way).
- Service crossings and chamber installation at each plot frontage.
- Reinstatement of road sub-base to allow the principal contractor's surfacing team to come straight on.
Key challenges
- Ground conditions varied — clay-heavy in the south of the site, running sand in the north — different shoring approaches.
- Sequencing around the gas contractor's polythene welding crew required day-by-day coordination.
- Two unmarked legacy field drains turned up during dig — both pumped, re-routed and recorded.
Outcome
- Trenching completed five days ahead of programme.
- All four service contractors signed off their installations within their programme dates.
- Principal contractor reported zero clashes or remedial digs across the package.
We've done multi-utility trench packages before and they normally end in tears. This one didn't. Everyone got in, got their services in, and got out.
— Senior Project Manager, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Need something similar?
If you're planning a utility trenching job across North London or the Home Counties — talk to us about scope, sequencing and a price. We work directly with DNOs, ICPs, main contractors and developers.