MGL Earthworks Commences Ground Improvement Works at Major County Durham Industrial Development

We have started work as an earthworks contractor at a major industrial development site in County Durham, beginning with the delivery of a significant ground-improvement package, showcasing the specialist engineering expertise, technical capability, and extensive plant fleet that underpin the business’s earthworks operations.

The project will see the team transform more than 48,000m² of land through a programme of bulk earthworks, ground improvement and infrastructure works, creating stable, engineered platforms ready for future industrial development.

The first phase of the project focuses on large-scale site preparation and ground improvement activities. This includes vegetation clearance and the stripping of approximately 12,000m³ of topsoil, which is being carefully managed and stockpiled for reuse wherever possible. Alongside this, the team is undertaking bulk cut-and-fill operations to reprofile the site and achieve the required formation levels for the future development.

A key technical challenge on the scheme involves the treatment of desiccated clay deposits identified across the site. To address this, MGL Earthworks is excavating unsuitable material before carrying out lime stabilisation and ground improvement works. Through the modification and reuse of site-won materials, the team is maximising sustainability, reducing waste and minimising the need for imported fill.

Once the ground improvement phase is complete, attention will turn to the construction of the site’s drainage infrastructure. This includes the excavation and installation of large attenuation tanks, together with associated drainage works designed to support the site’s long-term surface water management strategy. The attenuation tank works alone require the excavation of more than 10,000m³ of material, highlighting the scale of the earthworks operation.

The final phase of works will involve the placement, compaction and testing of engineered fill to create development-ready platforms capable of supporting future industrial buildings, external yards, highways and associated infrastructure. Rigorous testing and validation procedures will ensure all works are delivered in accordance with the required engineering specifications.

By combining technical expertise, ground improvement techniques, and effective material management, MGL Earthworks is helping unlock the site’s potential while creating the stable foundations required for the next stage of development. The project demonstrates the team’s ability to deliver complex earthworks packages in challenging ground conditions, supporting major industrial developments across the region.

We are proudto be undertaking earthworks projects that will help develop County Durham and the wider North East.