New Build Gardens
Turn a bare, compacted plot into a usable outdoor seating area, groundwork done right from the start.
Common Groundwork Failures
The surface is only as good as what sits beneath it. These are the failure modes that show up within a season or two.
Laying directly onto compacted clay without excavating means the surface rocks and cracks as the ground shifts with moisture.
Excavation to the depth required for sub-base, bedding layer, and surface material is measured and quoted before any work starts.
A flat surface over clay-heavy Cambridgeshire ground pools water after rain, making the outdoor area unusable and softening the base over time.
Drainage falls are established during sub-base compaction so surface water runs to a defined edge or ACO channel drain, not the centre.
New build plots routinely contain rubble, mortar and builder’s waste that create voids under the surface, causing settlement and cracking.
Topsoil, debris and contaminated material are removed before any sub-base is laid, so the formation is clean and stable throughout.
Paving over or around an inspection cover at the wrong level blocks access and can cause the surrounding surface to crack under load.
Inspection covers are raised or adjusted to finished surface level before paving stones are laid, keeping access clear and the surface flush.
Scope of Work
From bare compacted soil to a finished outdoor surface, each stage quoted separately so costs are visible before work begins.
Garden area measured, drainage checked, and inspection covers located before any groundwork is planned.
Compacted soil, building rubble and contaminated topsoil removed to the correct excavation depth for the chosen surface.
Type 1 sub-base laid and compacted in layers using a plate compactor to create a stable, load-bearing formation.
Falls set during compaction; garden borders defined with edging to hold the perimeter and direct surface water away.
Porcelain, sandstone, limestone or block paving stones laid on a full mortar bed once the base is complete and signed off.
Position and size of the seating area planned around the garden’s shape, access points and any inspection covers.
Low-maintenance, frost-resistant surface on a full mortar bed.
Natural stone options suited to a range of garden sizes.
Flexible surface that handles ground movement on clay soils.
Linear drainage where falls alone are not sufficient.
New Plot, Right Base
Compacted subsoil, building debris, and no drainage provision are the starting conditions on most new build plots around Huntingdon.
The site assessment measures the garden area, identifies any inspection covers that need to remain accessible, and checks how the ground drains. New build developments around Huntingdon often leave gardens as bare, compacted clay with little topsoil and no defined drainage route. This needs to be resolved at the groundwork stage, not after the surface is laid.
Topsoil and debris are removed to the excavation depth required for the sub-base, bedding layer, and surface material. The sub-base is compacted in layers using a plate compactor. Drainage falls are set during this stage so surface water runs to a defined edge or drainage channel rather than pooling in the centre of the outdoor seating area.
Inspection covers are raised or adjusted to finished surface level before paving stones are laid around them. Garden borders are defined with edging before the field is laid to hold the perimeter. The quote covers site clearance, excavation, sub-base, compaction, drainage falls, and surface laying as separate line items so groundwork costs are visible from the start.
Why Choose Us
Groundwork on a new build plot has specific demands, here is how we handle the process and accountability side of the job.
We schedule a survey that accounts for Huntingdon’s new build sites and Cambridgeshire’s clay ground conditions.
The ground is surveyed first. No guesswork on depth, drainage or debris before a price is agreed.
Excavation, sub-base, drainage and paving are quoted as separate lines so you can see exactly what each stage costs.
The installer advises on porcelain, sandstone, limestone or block based on your garden’s size, shape and drainage needs.
Service area includes Godmanchester, St Ives and Brampton, all common locations for new build housing in this part of Cambridgeshire.
How It Works
01
Tell us the size, what is currently on the ground, and how it drains after rain.
02
An on-site visit assesses the ground conditions. The itemised quote covers each stage of the work.
03
The installer clears, excavates, compacts the sub-base, sets drainage falls, and lays the surface to the agreed specification.
Pricing Estimates
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small new-build garden patio | £1,800-£3,000 |
| Average family patio | £3,000-£6,000 |
| Larger premium patio | £5,000-£15,000 |
Describe the size, what is down there now and how it drains, and we’ll schedule a survey. The dig, sub-base, drainage and paving are quoted as separate lines.