Our Built Environment Division brings together specialist expertise to support construction, regeneration, infrastructure, utilities and real estate development projects from early-stage investigation and planning through to delivery and validation.
Capabilities span geotechnical and geoenvironmental consultancy, site investigation, materials and soil testing, surveying, ecology, arboriculture, biodiversity, landscape architecture, planning, environmental consultancy, design and architecture.
The Division operates across four core areas: ground risk, environmental and planning support, surveying, and ecology and arboriculture. Through a growing network of specialist member companies, clients can access complementary expertise and decades of technical experience, helping projects progress safely, sustainably and with confidence.
Ground and site investigations
Our ground and site investigation capabilities provide the data and insight needed to understand sites, reduce risk and support informed decision-making throughout a project. Services include topographic and utility surveys, digital modelling, building and engineering surveys, CCTV drainage surveys, laser scanning, drone surveys, structural inspections and drilling.
Specialists including Vision Survey and LandScope Engineering combine technical expertise with advanced surveying technology, with capabilities spanning utility mapping and BIM through to pavement investigation and ground penetrating radar.
Materials and soils testing
Our materials and soils testing capabilities support infrastructure and construction projects through on-site investigation, laboratory testing, analysis and geotechnical reporting. Services include testing of concrete, bituminous materials and soils, helping clients demonstrate quality, performance and compliance throughout a project.
UKAS-accredited laboratories operated by specialists including Aitken Laboratories and MSS provide both site-based and laboratory testing, supported by decades of experience across the roads, infrastructure and construction sectors.
Geotechnical engineering
Our geotechnical and geoenvironmental specialists help clients understand and manage ground-related risks across brownfield and greenfield developments. Capabilities include ground investigation, geotechnical risk assessment, remediation, rock and ground condition assessments, subsidence investigations, groundwater and ground gas investigations, flood risk assessment and specialist drilling.
This expertise is delivered by established specialists including A F Howland Associates, Brownfield Solutions and GIP, bringing together geotechnical, geoenvironmental and mining risk expertise to support projects from initial investigation and assessment through to development.
Environmental monitoring, planning and consultancy
Our environmental planning and consultancy capabilities help clients understand environmental constraints, meet regulatory requirements and deliver more sustainable development. Services span remediation and validation, landscape architecture, urban design, green belt and grey belt assessments, habitat surveys, biodiversity net gain, carbon and climate planning, and natural capital assessment.
Specialists including Urban Green, Ethos Environmental Planning and Envance bring together environmental, ecological, landscape and planning expertise to support developers, local authorities and other organisations from early-stage assessment and planning through to project delivery.
Specialist strategic planning
Our strategic planning, architecture and landscape capabilities help landowners and developers unlock opportunities and maximise the long-term value of rural land and property.
Rural Solutions provides specialist planning, design and strategic advisory expertise across the UK, helping clients navigate complex planning and environmental requirements and bring forward sustainable rural development.
Our ecology, biodiversity and sustainability capabilities help clients understand environmental constraints, meet planning requirements and deliver more sustainable development. Services include biodiversity net gain assessments, ecological and arboricultural surveys, topographical and contaminated land surveys, environmental project management, carbon and climate planning, natural capital assessment and sustainability strategy.
Specialists including Arbtech and Urban Green bring together expertise across ecology, arboriculture, landscape architecture, urban design and GIS, supporting projects across residential development, healthcare, infrastructure and regeneration.
Land and engineering surveying
Our land and engineering surveying capabilities provide accurate, reliable data to support projects throughout planning, design and construction. Services include topographical and measured building surveys, utility mapping, engineering surveys, laser scanning, drone surveys, digital modelling, CCTV drainage surveys, construction setting out and monitoring.
Specialists including Vision Survey combine experienced surveying teams with technologies such as ground penetrating radar, LiDAR and BIM-ready digital modelling, helping clients understand above and below-ground conditions, reduce risk and make informed project decisions.
Marine surveying
Our marine surveying capabilities support infrastructure, development and environmental projects through hydrographic, geophysical and marine environmental surveys.
LandScope Engineering provides integrated surveying expertise across above-ground, below-ground and underwater environments, giving clients access to coordinated data and insight across complex sites and projects.
