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

    14 May 2026

    MSc Student to Help with BRE 365 Soakaway Project

    At Ruddlesden geotechnical, we often provide work experience to university students over the summer. This pleases both parties, as it provides them with invaluable industrial experience and a bit of pocket money, and helps us cover staff holidays, as well acting as an extended job interview, should a suitable vacancy arise in the future.This summer, we are particularly looking forward to welcoming Bailey, from the University of Portsmouth, who will be doing his MSc dissertation with us. He will be working and extending on an on-going project of ours. He will be reviewing all of our soakaway testing data and correlating this with the published geology, and then asking the question, and potentially providing the answer: does BRE soakaway testing need to be carried out in certain geologies?We have been reliably informed that he is a GIS whizz and are hopeful that he is what the project needs to take it to the next level.

    MSc Student to Help with BRE 365 Soakaway Project
    MSc Student to Help with BRE 365 Soakaway Project
  • Recent projects

    UKAS Accredited Testing for Residential Development in Somerset

    Extensive geotechnical and contamination laboratory testing was recently undertaken as part of a ground investigation for proposed residential development site on the outskirts of Weston-super-Mare. In addition to classification (plastic and liquid limits and particle size distribution) tests, quick undrained triaxial and oedometer consolidation tests were carried out to provide information for foundation design. pH and soluble sulphate testing (BRE SD1 suite) was also undertaken to confirm the buried concrete class requirements. A broad range of contamination testing, including asbestos, heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), was undertaken to provide information for human health and controlled waters risk assessments. The testing was UKAS accredited and Ruddlesden geotechnical’s close working relationships with both the laboratories helped ensure the testing results were issued promptly.

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  • Recent projects

    Temporary Works Excavation Stability Assessment, North Devon

    It was proposed to construct a retaining wall as part of the proposed redevelopment of a residential site in north Devon. Ruddlesden were commissioned to provide a method statement detailing precautions to be taken during excavations, with details of the support to be provided during temporary works and construction of the retaining wall. Whilst it was considered that one of the excavations could be safely graded back to a safe angle of repose to facilitate the construction of the retaining wall, where this was not possible, the soils and rock exposed in the excavation were retained by a proprietary geo-grid/ mesh pinned into the slope, to mitigate the risk of rock fall.

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