Civil engineering and cable routes in London

Our work in London

Ground Utilities Ltd is a civil engineering, groundworks and multi-utility contractor based in Cottenham, Cambridgeshire. In North London we installed five 33kV circuits with fibre for a new data centre and a generation site. The route was fully ducted along main arterial roads into London and crossed waterways and major road junctions. We double-stacked the ducts to keep the trench narrow and worked 24 hours a day to reduce disruption to the programme. Haringey and Enfield councils both commended how the work was carried out.

In South West London we excavated a sewer diversion route for a new development, exposing and supporting the existing sewer and other utilities in the same excavations.

London projects

• 5 x 33kV with fibre optic: Five 33kV circuits with fibre for a new data centre and a generation site: about 53,000 metres of cable in a fully ducted route along main roads. August 2018 to April 2020.
• Deep excavations for sewer and water service: Fifteen excavations, more than 3 metres deep at the deepest, to expose and support an existing sewer and other utilities for a diversion route. August to October 2021.

Working in London roads

Our supervisors and operatives hold NRSWA street works cards. We coordinate with local highway authorities to secure the permits a route needs. Where a client needs it, we have applied for and managed the Section 50 licence and highway permits ourselves on schemes elsewhere in England.

What we build

• HV and LV cable routes from 240V to 132kV
• Civil construction: deep excavations, foundations, substation civils and drainage
• Waste water: sewers and sewer diversions
• Multi utility works: power, fibre, water and drainage routes on one site

Approvals

We hold full NERS approval for cable laying at LV, 11kV, 20kV, 33kV, 66kV and 132kV, and for civil works, with all six distribution network operators, including UK Power Networks. You can check it on the LRQA NERS register.

Where else we work

We also work in Cambridgeshire and Essex, and across the rest of England and Wales.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ground Utilities work in London?

Yes. We installed about 53,000 metres of 33kV and fibre cable on a route through North London, and excavated a sewer diversion route in South West London.

Do you work around the clock when a scheme needs it?

On our North London cable route we worked 24 hours a day to reduce disruption to the programme. Haringey and Enfield councils both commended how the work was carried out.

Where is Ground Utilities based?

At Highdrove Farm, Long Drove, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire CB24 8RL. We work across England and Wales.

Do you make the final electricity connection?

No. We build the route and install the cable. The network operator or the client's connection provider makes the final live connection.