Garden Groundworks in West Dulwich that set your whole garden project up for success. From site clearance and excavation to drainage, levelling and foundations, we prepare SE21 plots properly—ready for paving, turf or planting.
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If your garden plans start with uneven ground, poor drainage or old concrete that needs shifting, our team can help. We deliver practical groundwork solutions across SE21, including around West Dulwich station and Belair Park. Expect careful site clearance, excavation and grading to create a clean, build-ready base. Every stage is planned to protect your property and keep disruption down.
West Dulwich’s leafy streets and period properties often come with tight side access, mature trees and older garden layouts. We regularly work on Victorian villas, Edwardian houses and period conversions, where levels can be inconsistent and drainage routes need thoughtful planning. Whether you’re near Dulwich Village or heading towards Herne Hill, we tailor the approach to your plot and the end finish you want. Our groundwork ensures patios, lawns and garden rooms sit true and stay stable.
We start with a site survey, then map out levels, falls and drainage runs before any digging begins. Our crews handle access protection, spoil removal and waste disposal responsibly, keeping the site organised day-to-day. You’ll get clear communication, photos of key stages and a specification you can rely on—ideal if other trades follow on. Homeowners choose us for dependable results, clean workmanship and a 10-year warranty on qualifying groundwork installations.
We understand the practicalities of garden groundworks in London Borough of Lambeth, including parking constraints, skip placement and considerate working hours. Around Dulwich Wood and Thurlow Park, mature roots and boundary structures often influence excavation depth and drainage routes. We plan access and materials deliveries to suit SE21 streets and period plots. That local know-how helps keep your project efficient and compliant.
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Costs vary with access, spoil volume and whether you need drainage or foundations. As a guide, small clearance and levelling jobs often start around £900–£1,800. Typical groundwork for a patio base with excavation, sub-base and waste removal is commonly £2,500–£6,500. More involved projects including drainage runs, retaining work or foundations for a garden room can range from £6,500–£15,000+.
Most domestic groundwork projects take between 2 and 7 working days, depending on size and complexity. A straightforward dig-out and level for a patio base may be 2–4 days, while drainage, grading across multiple levels, or foundations can extend to 1–3 weeks. Timescales are affected by access width, the amount of spoil to remove, weather, and whether hidden obstructions appear during excavation.
Many garden groundworks are permitted development, especially where you’re preparing bases for paving, turf or planting. However, rules can apply to drainage connections, works near boundaries, listed buildings, or properties in conservation areas, which are common around period streets. For drive or front-garden surfacing, permeable requirements may also apply. We’ll flag likely permissions early and can liaise with London Borough of Lambeth guidance where needed.
We provide a 10-year warranty on qualifying groundwork installations, covering workmanship on items such as prepared sub-bases, drainage installation and foundations built to the agreed specification. The warranty is designed to protect you against defects that lead to issues like settlement caused by incorrect compaction or poorly formed falls. It doesn’t cover damage from third-party works, extreme events, or changes made after completion, but we’re always on hand to advise.
Groundworks can be tailored to what you’re building above: compacted MOT Type 1 sub-bases for patios and paths, reinforced concrete foundations for garden rooms, and soakaways or channel drains for surface water control. We can also form steps, edging restraints and graded lawns for smoother transitions. If you’re unsure, we’ll recommend build-ups based on your soil, levels and intended finish, balancing durability, drainage and budget.
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