Surrey Contracting Limited · Groundworks, Earthworks & Demolition across Surrey & the Home Counties
Commercial / Public Realm · Groundworks

Southbank Centre

External works and drainage programme delivered around live cultural-venue operations on London's Southbank.

The brief

Surrey Contracting was engaged to deliver a phased external works programme at the Southbank Centre, one of the UK's busiest cultural venues, without disruption to public access or live programming.

Works included surface-water drainage upgrades, full-depth reconstruction of two adjacent service yards, and the reinstatement of pedestrian footways and crossings. Logistics were planned around evening performances and weekend public access, with night-shift pours used to keep the site open through the day.

The delivery

Excavation and base reconstruction were completed in 50-metre bays over a 6-week programme, with reinstatement completed on phased weekends. Pedestrian routes were maintained throughout with temporary tactile crossings and signed diversions.

  • 2,400m² of full-depth reconstruction
  • 180lm of precast kerbing and channel
  • 320m of new surface-water drainage and gullies
  • Phased delivery around live venue operations
  • Full traffic-management and pedestrian-route maintenance
  • Independent core sampling and compliance testing on completion

The outcome

Handover was achieved on programme with zero impact on ticketed performances. The new hardstanding and drainage have improved both accessibility and run-off capacity, and the Southbank Centre's facilities team have since commissioned us for follow-on works.

On site

In progress & on completion.

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