Groundworks in Godalming
From the steep slopes of Frith Hill to the floodplains of Farncombe. We have the heavy breakers for the Bargate Stone and the expertise for the River Wey valley.
Engineered for the Hills
Godalming is defined by its hills—Holloway, Charterhouse, and Frith. Working here requires specialized logistics to manage steep access roads and the ability to excavate through the notoriously hard local stone beds.
The Bargate Stone Challenge
Unlike the clay of Leatherhead, Godalming sits on the **Lower Greensand** formation, which contains beds of **Bargate Stone**—an incredibly hard, calcareous sandstone.
Standard excavators often struggle here. We deploy heavy-duty machines equipped with hydraulic breakers ("peckers") to trench through the rock strata found on the higher grounds of Charterhouse and Milford. Conversely, in the valley bottom at Farncombe, we deal with soft, water-logged alluvium.
For projects on the hills, we include rock-breaking provision in our quotes, ensuring no surprise costs when we hit the stone bedrock.
In the soft soils near the River Wey, we use piled foundations to bypass the compressible river silt and reach stable ground.
The Wey Floodplain
Farncombe and the areas surrounding Catteshall Lane are historically prone to flooding from the River Wey. We install robust flood defense systems for new builds and extensions in these high-risk zones.
Tanking (Type C)
For basements or semi-basements in the valley, we use cavity drain membranes with sump pumps to manage water ingress safely.
Non-Return Valves
We install automated valves on your sewer line to prevent back-flow from the main system during heavy river surges.
Slope Drainage
On steep properties (Holloway Hill), we engineer interceptor drains to prevent surface runoff from the road washing out your foundations.
Planning Resources
Waverley Planning
Submit applications and view constraints for Godalming conservation areas.
Visit Portal →Thames Water
Developer services for build-over agreements and sewer connections.
Developer Services →