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

    16 Apr 2026

    Coastal Slope Stability Assessment

    Geoff Davis has recently been in his element, carrying a slope stability assessment for a holiday park that has recently seen some quite dramatic ground movements.One thing that this project has highlighted is that for all the new technologies that are available to help us understand the ground, including LiDAR, drone surveys, remote sensing and inclinometers, all of which we intend to use on this site, they are of little use if the ground model is not understood. And this understanding of geology and geomorphology only come from a combination of education and experience.It is hoped that our understanding of the landslide processes at this complex site will allow us to predict possible future behaviour and assist in developing a long-term strategy for the future of the holiday park and its management.

    Coastal Slope Stability Assessment
    Coastal Slope Stability Assessment
  • Recent projects

    Earthworks Materials Suitability Assessment Enables Re-Use of Site-Won Soils, Devon

    A materials suitability assessment was undertaken as part of a wider geotechnical investigation and contaminated land assessment for a proposed residential development site in Torbay. Due to the site’s topography, significant amounts of cutting and filling were to be required to make the site suitable for development. Trial pitting was undertaken to ascertain the thickness, composition and type of materials present in the areas of proposed cut. Representative samples were taken for laboratory classification testing. On receipt of the laboratory test results, the materials were classified in accordance with Specification for Highway Works: Series 600: Earthworks, to determine whether the materials were suitable for their proposed end use. Ruddlesden’s report helped the developer assess the relative cost and viability of using site-won material, in lieu of importing large quantities of engineered fill and exporting excavated material to landfill unnecessarily.

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  • Recent projects

    Foundation Inspections Reduce Construction Costs, East Devon

    Ruddlesden geotechnical are currently undertaking foundation inspections on a plot-by-plot basis for a regional housing developer at a new residential development site in East Devon. The consulting engineer had specified that all foundations be reinforced to accommodate local changes in the ground conditions, identified in the original geotechnical investigation. However, following a reduction in site levels, the majority of footings were to be founded in the relatively more homogenous underlying Dawlish Sandstone Formation and, where not encountered, it was found to be more cost effective to deepen foundations into the Dawlish Sandstone Formation, rather than reinforcing shallower footings, founded in the overlying superficial deposits. Ruddlesden geotechnical are responsible for providing an account of the ground conditions encountered in each foundation excavation and specifying whether further excavation (or reinforcement) is required for each plot.

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