New Build
South Kenton, London, UK
Project Brief
LSY Engineering Consultants Ltd was appointed to lead the structural engineering design of two new-build residential properties in South Kenton, London.
Our involvement spanned from tender stage through to construction and completion, including ongoing site supervision to ensure the successful delivery of the project.
The structural solution comprised a combination of steel framing, timber floor construction, precast concrete beams, beam-and-block flooring, and traditional strip foundations. The development was designed to provide modern, open-plan living spaces while maintaining an efficient and cost-effective construction approach.
Challenges
The project site was located on a busy residential street in London, presenting significant access constraints for the delivery and installation of construction materials. Careful consideration was therefore required during the design phase to ensure the structure could be constructed efficiently within the limitations of the site.
Several mature broadleaf trees were also located within and adjacent to the development site. The removal of these trees necessitated detailed geotechnical investigations to assess the potential impact of root influence on soil conditions and to determine the most appropriate foundation strategy for the new properties.
In addition, the proximity of neighbouring buildings required careful consideration of existing foundation levels and ground conditions to ensure that the proposed development could be constructed without adversely affecting adjacent structures.
Process
LSY developed a traditional structural solution combining masonry construction, timber floors, steelwork, and strip foundations to provide an efficient and buildable design.
One of the key project objectives was to achieve large open-plan living spaces while maintaining generous floor-to-ceiling heights. To achieve this, long-span steel beams were incorporated within the structural layout to support the timber floor construction and minimise the depth of the floor build-up.
Working closely with project architect Tom Beswick, we reviewed multiple structural options to optimise both the building layout and internal headroom. A key design requirement was to keep the timber floor zones as shallow as possible, enabling the architect’s vision for bright, open living spaces to be fully realised.
Following the completion of the geotechnical investigations, two foundation options were considered:
- Deep strip foundations.
- Piled foundations.
After reviewing the site conditions, programme requirements, and construction logistics, deep strip foundations were selected as the preferred solution. This approach eliminated the need for a specialist piling contractor, reducing programme risk and delivering cost and time savings for the client.
To address the restricted access challenges, lightweight construction materials were utilised wherever practical. The use of timber floor construction reduced handling requirements on site while facilitating an efficient and safe construction process.
Throughout the construction phase, LSY provided ongoing site inspections and technical support, ensuring that the design intent was maintained and that any site queries were resolved promptly and efficiently.
Outcome
The project was successfully completed in accordance with the client’s brief, delivering two high-quality residential properties featuring spacious open-plan layouts and efficient structural solutions.
By combining traditional construction techniques with modern structural engineering design and Building Information Modelling (BIM), the development achieved the desired architectural outcome while remaining practical and cost-effective to construct.
As the client’s first development project, South Kenton proved to be an outstanding success. The completed scheme has subsequently been used as a showcase project, demonstrating the quality of the design and construction and helping to support the client’s future development portfolio.
Back to all projects
