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Established 2004

Ruddlesden geotechnical

Ruddlesden geotechnical provides ground investigation, geotechnical consultancy and contamination assessment services.

Based in Exeter, but covering the whole of the UK, albeit primarily concentrated in the South West, Ruddlesden geotechnical was formed in 2004.

Ruddlesden geotechnical works on behalf of a wide client base, including local, regional and national housing developers, housing associations, commercial developers, building contractors, structural and civil engineers, architects, building consultants, quantity surveyors, local authorities and private individuals.

Development projects range from single dwellings and extensions to large housing estates, multi-storey flats, offices, industrial units, roads, slopes, schools, hospitals and basements.

The services and projects listed on this web-site provide an indication of those undertaken by Ruddlesden geotechnical, but others are carried out. If your requirement is not readily identifiable on this web-site, please contact us as we may still be able to help you.

  • AGS
  • Constructionline
  • CSCS
  • SMAS
  • ECFC trust

Latest news

Recent projects

  • Latest news

    18 Jun 2026

    School Reunion and Connections

    Last weekend, Simon Ruddlesden went back to school, to celebrate the retirement of an exceptional geology teacher, who, together with colleagues, has built a department that consistently ranks among the best in the country.  The results speak for themselves: over 50% of the year group now take GCSE Geology; 85% of A-Level students achieved A or A* last year.There are incredible numbers and inspiring teaching. However, despite decades of producing highly capable geology students, very few of them have ended up in the ground investigation / geotechnical / geo-environmental industry. A missed opportunity, perhaps?As discussed at the recent AGS annual conference (and elsewhere), we are hearing that there are fewer well-trained graduates entering our industry, and we are seeing fewer universities offering geoscience degrees and fewer schools offering geology at GCSE and A-Level. However, perhaps the biggest challenge of all is awareness. Ask a school-age student what a career in geology looks like, and you’ll likely hear “mining…oil and gas…quarrying”. Our industry is often not even on the radar. If students don’t know we exist, why would they ever choose this path? Why would they pick geology at university if they don’t realise it could unlock a rewarding career in our field?So, Simon will be going back to school again, not to study, but to share what we do, why it matters, and how rewarding it can be. The ground investigation/ geotechnical/ geo-environmental industry won’t be for everyone, but there could be an untapped pool of future engineering geologists and geo-environmental engineers out there; we just need to reach them earlier. Let’s make sure the next generation know we exist!If you know of a school that would like to hear what Simon has to say about working in the industry, please get in touch. 

    School Reunion and Connections
    School Reunion and Connections

  • Recent projects

    Close Liaison with Local Authority and NHBC Saves Time and Money

    Ruddlesden geotechnical often liaise with the local authority’s environmental health officer (EHO) and, in some instances, the petroleum officer to gain additional background information about a site. The local authority often have additional information or insight as a result of previous developments within the same area. Ruddlesden geotechnical held favourable discussions with both the EHO and warranty provider (NHBC) regarding the risk of ground gases (carbon dioxide and methane) to a proposed residential development site in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Initially, the warranty provider felt that in-situ ground gas monitoring was required to ascertain the risk of gases migrating from a nearby landfill site to beneath the site. However, following joint discussions with the EHO, it transpired that historical ground gas monitoring, both on and off the landfill, had shown that the landfill had a relatively low ground gas generation potential and so was unlikely to significantly affect the site. It was agreed that in lieu of in-situ monitoring, nominal ground gas protective measures, akin to full radon protective measures (a gas proof membrane and subfloor ventilation), could be adopted. On this occasion, this pragmatic approach saved the developer significant time and money.

  • Recent projects

    Ground Investigation Report, Cornwall

    A Ground Investigation Report, fulfilling the requirements set out in BS EN 1997-2: Ground Investigation & Testing, was produced for an extension to a school in Dorset. The Ground Investigation Report (GIR) presented a factual record of the ground and groundwater conditions encountered, together with the laboratory testingresults, followed by a review of the ground profile and geotechnical parameters for foundation design. The Ground Investigation Report was issued promptly, shortly after the receipt of the laboratory testing results, less than three weeks after the completion of siteworks. Interim parameters for design were provided prior to the receipt of the laboratory testing results, based on field observations and in-situ testing results.