Van Elle

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Van Elle Van Elle is the UK’s leading piling and ground engineering contractor. Discover more on our website: https://van-elle.co.uk

Formed in 1984, and listed as a quoted company in 2016, we own the largest rig fleet in the UK, with more than 35 years industry experience and a first-class training centre with the purpose of upskilling our staff, yours, and local communities. Offering total foundation solutions with the ability to deliver a full package of works, we have the infrastructure to support construction projects nationwide, installing 25 specialist techniques to meet your specific project requirements. Our specialist divisions, working across all sectors, including Strata Geotechnics and ScrewFast Foundations, are dedicated to supplying customers with innovative solutions and expert advice from project inception to final account.

Specialist Piling works within a 35 metre-deep shaftWorking from the base of a shaft 35 metres below ground level, our S...
16/10/2026

Specialist Piling works within a 35 metre-deep shaft

Working from the base of a shaft 35 metres below ground level, our Specialist Piling team have completed a challenging piling package in Gravesend.

The shaft forms part of National Grid’s programme to replace ageing tunnel infrastructure and will provide access for a tunnel boring machine during construction of a new tunnel between Tilbury and Gravesend.

Working on behalf of the Ferrovial-BEMO JV the team installed 56 No. 150mm diameter down-the-hole (DTH) piles, drilling a further 12.7 metres from the base of the shaft.

Working within a shaft of this depth required careful planning and specialist equipment. A Klemm 702 rig was selected to meet the site’s lifting constraints and available crane capacity.

The works also involved drilling through a 3-metre reinforced concrete slab and concrete blinding.

Originally programmed for three weeks, the piling package was completed in just two weeks, supporting the wider project programme.

The project demonstrates our ability to deliver specialist piling solutions in restricted-access environments, combining experienced teams, specialist equipment and technical expertise to meet the demands of complex infrastructure projects.

For more information about our specialist and restricted-access piling capabilities, contact [email protected].

⚙️ 242 No. sheet piles silently extracted alongside a live railway at Old Oak CommonAs part of ongoing rail upgrades at ...
14/10/2026

⚙️ 242 No. sheet piles silently extracted alongside a live railway at Old Oak Common

As part of ongoing rail upgrades at Old Oak Common, our Rail team have removed a redundant sheet-pile wall on behalf of SRSA, with the works carried out alongside operational railway lines and sensitive infrastructure.

The project involved extracting 242 No. steel sheet piles. Before extraction could begin, each pile was cut down to the required height, allowing the Giken F301 silent extraction rig to be safely positioned and secured onto the wall.

The Giken F301 silent extraction was selected to minimise noise, vibration and ground disturbance, helping to reduce the impact on the adjacent track, structures and ongoing railway operations. A Sennebogen 653 crawler crane was used to safely handle and remove the extracted piles.

Following extraction and backfill, our Ground Stabilisation team carried out compaction grouting to fill the resulting voids and maintain ground stability around the adjacent railway infrastructure.

The project demonstrates the benefits of collaboration across our teams, combining rail expertise, specialist plant and ground engineering solutions to safely deliver complex works within challenging rail environments.

Looking for a foundation or ground engineering solution for your next rail infrastructure project? Get in touch with our team at [email protected].

👷 WE’RE HIRING!As we continue to grow, we’re looking for people to join us and be part of the teams delivering ground en...
12/10/2026

👷 WE’RE HIRING!

As we continue to grow, we’re looking for people to join us and be part of the teams delivering ground engineering projects across the UK.

There are opportunities available across a range of roles, including:

· Setting Out Engineers

· Piling Operatives

· Apprentice Welder

· Apprentice Administrator

· Lead Driller

Whether you’re looking to take the next step in your career, develop your experience or bring your existing skills to a new role, we have opportunities to suit a range of backgrounds and experience levels.

🔗 View our current vacancies here: https://vanellejsp.postingpanda.uk/

🚆 Supporting the Havant Area Resignalling ProjectOur Rail team have completed piling works for the Havant Area Resignall...
09/10/2026

🚆 Supporting the Havant Area Resignalling Project

Our Rail team have completed piling works for the Havant Area Resignalling Project on behalf of AJ Services, with Global Rail Construction acting as Principal Contractor.

Our scope included the installation of piled foundations to support a new signal and two location staging platforms for new signalling equipment.

Working within a single 12-hour blockade, the team installed 8 No. Circular Hollow Section (CHS) piles across a six-mile stretch of railway, comprising a 339mm diameter pile for the signal location and 7 No. 457mm diameter piles across the staging areas.

The works were delivered across three locations using four Colmar T10000 RRVs equipped with pre-auger, Movax side-grip and BSP impact hammer attachments. A dedicated floating pre-auger machine was also used to overcome the chalk ground conditions encountered along the route.

Despite the logistical complexity of coordinating operations across three separate locations within a single possession, the full scope was completed within the available 12-hour blockade, demonstrating careful planning and coordination by the delivery team.

The project demonstrates our ability to coordinate specialist piling operations across multiple locations within demanding rail possession constraints.

Our work supports the wider scheme, which involves the renewal of signalling infrastructure across the Havant area, including new signalling control systems, interlocking equipment and associated lineside assets.

For more information about our rail piling capabilities, contact [email protected].

Supporting Critical Energy Infrastructure at Monk Fryston ⚡Our Specialist Piling team has successfully completed the pil...
07/10/2026

Supporting Critical Energy Infrastructure at Monk Fryston ⚡

Our Specialist Piling team has successfully completed the piling package at the Monk Fryston Substation project in Leeds, West Yorkshire, on behalf of Murphy.

The works support part of National Grid's Yorkshire GREEN project and SSE Renewables' new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).



Our team installed 32 No. bored cast-in-place piles and 48 No. rotary percussive overburden drilled piles using ODEX and down-the-hole hammer (DTH) techniques to support the construction of the new 400kV substation.

The works presented several ground engineering challenges, including weaker-than-anticipated rock conditions and significant groundwater at pile formation level. Through close collaboration with Murphy, we adapted the installation methodology to respond to these conditions, maintaining progress and achieving the required design criteria.

The project demonstrates our ability to adapt our approach and deliver specialist foundation solutions for complex energy infrastructure schemes despite challenge site conditions.

Looking for a specialist foundation solution for your next energy infrastructure project? Get in touch with our team at [email protected].

Bow Green piling works complete at record depth in a restricted environment ✅Our piling works have now been completed at...
05/10/2026

Bow Green piling works complete at record depth in a restricted environment ✅

Our piling works have now been completed at the Phase 2 Bow Green development in East London for Berkeley Group.

In total, 679 No. piles, ranging from 400mm to 750mm in diameter, were installed to support four residential blocks, including social housing.

This included 23 No. 600mm diameter bored cast-in-place (BCIP) piles within the Network Rail easement zone, where OLE height restrictions required careful planning and coordination throughout the works.

The works were also supported by Strata Geotechnics, our ground investigation specialists, who completed boreholes ahead of the piling works to inform construction planning.

The works marked a new record for the business, with our deepest Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles installed to date, reaching depths of up to 40 metres.

This demonstrates our ability to deliver piling solutions for residential developments in restricted and technically demanding environments, supported by the specialist equipment, experienced teams and technical expertise required to work safely and efficiently within these constraints. It also builds on our strong relationships with leading developers and contractors and our experience in the UK residential sector.

For further information on our piling capabilities, contact [email protected].

⛳ A great day at the FPS Annual Golf Day!Our colleagues recently joined members at The Federation of Piling Specialists ...
02/10/2026

⛳ A great day at the FPS Annual Golf Day!

Our colleagues recently joined members at The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) Annual Golf Day at Wychwood Park Hotel and Golf Club in Crewe for a day of golf, networking and competition.

The event brought together 58 delegates across 15 teams, with excellent weather adding to a great day on the course.

There was a standout result for our team, with Graeme Campbell, taking the Longest Drive competition. 🏌️

Although we didn’t take home the team prize, the event was a great opportunity to connect with others across the piling and ground engineering industry. We’re pleased to continue as members of the FPS and support its work across the sector.

Thanks to the FPS and everyone involved in organising another great event, as well as the sponsors Liebherr Great Britain, Bachy Soletanche and Aarsleff Ground Engineering Ltd.

We look forward to next year’s Golf Day.



Image courtesy of the Federation of Piling Specialists.

📢 September HighlightsIt’s been a busy month across Van Elle, with teams delivering projects, attending industry events ...
01/10/2026

📢 September Highlights

It’s been a busy month across Van Elle, with teams delivering projects, attending industry events and getting involved in activities across the business.

Here are some of our September highlights:

🚆 Rail infrastructure – Foundation works at Old Oak Common and Dolphin Junction East, supporting major rail projects.

🏥 Healthcare – Specialist Piling and Ground Stabilisation teams supported a new hospital unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary for Henry Brothers Ltd.

⚡ Energy infrastructure – Helical piles installed at Drax Substation for Murphy, supporting National Grid’s Eastern Green Link 2 project.

🏛️ Potteries Museum & Art Gallery – Our Ground Stabilisation team completed mine stabilisation works in Stoke-on-Trent, supporting the relocation of the museum’s main entrance within a highly constrained environment alongside the historic building.

🏗️ Housing – Foundation works completed at the Oudenarde development in Scotland using precast concrete piles and Smartfoot foundation beams.

🏏 Van Elle Cricket Day – Colleagues from across the business came together at Marehay Cricket Club for our annual cricket match.

⛳ BDA Golf Day – A successful day for Strata Geotechnics, with excellent results across the competitions.

🌍 GEO Expo 2026 – The Strata Geotechnics team attended GEO Expo at the NEC, connecting with industry professionals and exploring developments across the sector.

🤝 National Inclusion Week – We reinforced our Respect Campaign, focusing on this year’s theme, Build Trust. Navigate Change, and encouraged conversations around inclusion and respectful behaviours.

👷Excavation reveals completed secant pile shaftFollowing excavation, the completed secant pile wall provides a view of t...
30/09/2026

👷Excavation reveals completed secant pile shaft

Following excavation, the completed secant pile wall provides a view of the shaft delivered by our team.

The shaft comprised 28 No. 750mm diameter rotary bored reinforced concrete piles and 28 No. 750mm diameter unreinforced piles, forming part of a new drainage and filtration system.

The works formed part of a wider piling package on a public sector project, which included more than 4,500 No. Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles.

Secant piling is used to form retaining walls for excavations, providing ground retention and helping to control groundwater ingress. The technique is well suited to deep excavations, enclosed shafts and projects where space is constrained.

For projects requiring secant piling or other specialist piling solutions, speak to our team to discuss your requirements.

📞 01773 580580
✉️ [email protected]

Supporting the development of Monklands Replacement Hospital 🏥Our Specialist Ground Stabilisation team has completed a c...
28/09/2026

Supporting the development of Monklands Replacement Hospital 🏥

Our Specialist Ground Stabilisation team has completed a complex mine stabilisation scheme at the Monklands Replacement Hospital development in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, on behalf of Laing O’Rourke.

The works formed part of the enabling package for the new hospital, helping to mitigate the risks associated with historic shallow mine workings and provide a stable foundation for future construction.

Working within a busy and complex site environment, our team utilised specialist techniques to access restricted areas and work around site obstructions, maintaining progress throughout the works.

Additional probing works were also undertaken to refine the treatment strategy and further investigate potential mine entries identified across the development.

The works were completed ahead of programme, successfully stabilising the ground and reducing the risks associated with historic mining activity.

The project highlights our specialist expertise in delivering ground engineering solutions for critical healthcare infrastructure.

Find out more about our capabilities at [email protected] or visit our website.

Address

Summit Close
Kirkby In Ashfield
NG178GJ

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+441773580580

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