UK specialists in geotechnical & environmental engineering.
Quality you can build on.
Our Services
At RDM, we offer a full range of site investigation and reporting services tailored to support planning, design, and construction. Catering to a diverse clientele, ranging from homeowners, commercial developers and government projects.
Phase 1 Desk Studies & Risk Assessments
Comprehensive desktop reports to identify potential environmental and geotechnical risks early in your project.
Phase 2 Site Investigations
On-site testing and sampling to assess ground conditions, contamination, and suitability for development..
Contaminated Land Assessment
Detailed analysis and reporting in line with regulatory guidance to ensure safe, compliant land use.
Planning & Regulatory Support
Clear, practical guidance to help navigate environmental regulations and planning conditions.
Geotechnical Analysis & Foundation Design
Engineering advice to support cost-effective, structurally sound foundation solutions.
Waste Classification & Soil Testing
Accurate testing and classification for disposal, reuse, or remediation strategies.
Get in touch!
Request a quote from our form below
Your message has been sent
Previous projects
A blog containing some of our previous projects.
The redevelopment of Ellerton walk, Wolverhampton
RDM Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Ltd was appointed by the City of Wolverhampton Council to undertake a comprehensive site investigation at Ellerton Walk.
The site, already empty of residents and with many residences boarded up, was due to be developed by City of Wolverhampton Council for phase 1 of a major residential redevelopment.
Through a combination of desktop study and laboratory analysis, RDM confirmed the site’s general suitability for construction. The superficial surface materials comprised gravelly clay formations of the last ice age, overlying 300-million-year-old bedrock.
While most of the site was stable, some areas had been previously worked to suit the old development, using site won and imported materials. This meant some ground improvement to avoid differential settlement for the new proposed structures.
RDM recommended using raft foundations across the site, with cement or lime binder ground improvement in a few specific locations.
No soil contamination risk was identified, though the potential for asbestos in the fabric of the old buildings was determined to be a risk to construction workers.
This location showed strong potential for redevelopment, and RDM are proud to have played a part in helping shape the future of this area. RDM would like to thank the City of Wolverhampton Council for the opportunity to make a contribution to this project.
Alum Rock Rd, Saltley, Birmingham
RDM Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Ltd recently undertook a comprehensive geotechnical investigation on Alum Rock Road in Saltley, Birmingham — a mixed-use site that formerly served as a recycling hub and before that, a quarry. Retail units now front the development with affordable dwellings located to the rear. The project makes a functional and socially valuable contribution to the area.
The primary objective of our investigation was to assess site conditions to inform future structural and foundation design for planned redevelopment works. RDM also conducted a detailed phase I desktop study followed by a phase II ground investigation. Our soil testing identified high levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic and hydrocarbons, relating to informal recycling carried out on the land.
This site also underwent a full unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk assessment, given its historical context and records of bomb strikes during World War II, providing our clients and future residents with the reassurance of the safety of their homes.
Helping to transform and give complex sites like this one is a key part of our mission — enabling sustainable development while protecting public health and supporting the environment. RDM continues to support responsible development across Birmingham and the wider Midlands area. We’d like to thank our clients Oaktree Developers Ltd for their custom.
The new Co-Op retail store, Desford
In November 2024, RDM was appointed to undertake the site investigation for a new Co-Op retail store in Desford, Leicestershire, located adjacent to the Blue Bell Inn.
The development involved extending an existing building – belonging to a cafe/ village shop. The original building rested on shallow foundations (less than 0.5m deep) with a partial basement, and this posed significant soil engineering challenges for the extension as the presence of the basement meant an increase in founding depth.
Our initial recommendation was to fill the basement void with concrete to stabilise the area and create uniform ground conditions for the new foundations. This advice was initially declined due to budget considerations. However, due to higher cost pressures from alternative foundation solutions, the client revisited the idea. Moving quickly to implement recommendations, the client was also advised to underpin the original building to further mitigate movement between old and new structures.
Ultimately, the project benefitted from clear safety driven solutions, bringing a new retail hub to the community of Desford.
RDM thanks its clients Central Co-operative for their custom.
The residential redevelopment of the Sofa King site
In late 2019, RDM was brought in by clients Archway Construction Ltd to undertake a deep borehole investigation for a residential redevelopment project located at the junction of the Grand Union Canal and the River Nene. The site, once home to a local furniture factory humorously branded Sofa King was positioned for a new chapter in its history.
The site’s underlying ground presented challenges typical of riverside development. The near-surface strata consisted largely of alluvium and low-density river terrace deposits, including sands and gravels — materials known for their variability and limited load-bearing capacity.
To ensure the next development was to be rested on stable ground, we conducted a deep borehole investigation using a multi-tool rig. This allowed us to assess the full profile of the underlying geology and determine an appropriate founding strategy.
Deeper within the ground profile, we encountered Whitby Mudstone, a more competent stratum known for its consistent engineering properties. By extending foundations down to this layer, the development can avoid differential settlement issues, even in a setting flanked by fluctuating groundwater levels and historic floodplains.
The investigation provided not only vital bearing capacity data, but also insights into the site’s geological behavior, which provided our clients with critical data needed for the development which was successfully completed in 2024.
RDM is proud to have been included in this project and would like to thank Archway Construction Ltd for their custom.Collaborate with fellow architects.
Barrowden Village Community Hub
RDM Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Ltd is proud to have played a part in the development of a new communal hub for the village of Barrowden in Rutland, following the demolition of the old village hall built in 1927.
The new addition to the village is a future-ready facility, serving as a meeting point, healthcare centre, café and event space.
RDM was engaged during the early stages of the development to conduct a detailed borehole investigation. Using data generated from in-situ and laboratory testing, a geotechnical profile of the Lower Lincolnshire Limestone was generated, profiling the nature and composition of the geology specific to the development site for founding design.
The new Barrowden Community Hub stands as a testament to thoughtful planning, engineering, and local dedication, and in March 2025 the centre was opened by local MP Alicia Kearns.
RDM is proud to have supported this development, and would like to thank our clients Barrowden Village Hall CIO and Messenger BCR for their diligence in notifying RDM of the stages of site preparation, so that inspections could be arranged.
“Professional, efficient, and easy to work with. RDM handled our site investigation with zero hassle, and their advice made the planning process much smoother.”
James R
Oakfield Developments Ltd
RDM Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Ltd 