Need Groundwork Contractors in Crystal Palace for a garden build or new driveway base? Fine Landscaping delivers safe, tidy groundwork—clearance, excavation, drainage and concrete—done properly first time.
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From sloping gardens near Crystal Palace Park to tight access plots around Gipsy Hill, good groundwork is what makes every project last. We handle site clearance, excavation, levelling and foundations with careful planning and clean working. Whether you’re preparing for a patio, extension base or new access road, we build stable sub-bases and manage spoil responsibly. Homeowners across SE19 and SE20 rely on us for dependable starts and tidy finishes.
Crystal Palace has a mix of Victorian villas, Edwardian houses and period conversions, often with mature gardens and existing structures to work around. That means services, drains and boundary lines need locating before any dig begins. Our team is used to protecting neighbouring properties and keeping disruption low on narrower roads around Upper Norwood, Anerley and Penge. We tailor depths, reinforcement and drainage details to suit the property and intended load.
We start with a site visit, levels check and a clear scope covering excavation, drainage runs, concrete work and retaining walls where required. You’ll get transparent options, realistic timescales and a plan for access, waste removal and reinstatement. Work is completed to a high standard with proper compaction and falls, so surfaces don’t sink or pond. Local homeowners trust us because we communicate clearly, keep sites safe, and stand behind our workmanship.
The Crystal Palace hilltop setting can mean changes in levels, older drains and restricted access for machinery. We plan deliveries, parking and waste collection to suit residential streets and shared drives. Our team regularly works as groundwork contractors Crystal Palace area, adapting methods for period properties and garden boundaries. We also coordinate requirements when projects fall under different authorities as groundwork contractors in London Borough of Bromley/Croydon/Lambeth/Southwark/Lewisham.




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Costs depend on access, dig depth, spoil removal and whether you need drainage or concrete. As a guide, small site clearance and levelling can start from £600–£1,500. Excavation and sub-base preparation for patios/driveways is often £1,500–£4,500. Foundations, drainage and concrete bases commonly range £3,000–£12,000+. We provide a detailed, itemised quote after a site visit.
Many residential groundwork jobs take 2–7 days, such as clearance, excavation and a compacted sub-base. Drainage upgrades and concrete work can extend this to 1–3 weeks, especially if curing time is needed. Timescales vary with access (skips and machinery), weather, the amount of spoil, and whether we’re building retaining walls or foundations. We’ll confirm a schedule before starting and keep you updated daily.
Most garden groundwork, patio bases and like-for-like driveway preparation is usually permitted development, but rules can change depending on surface water drainage, front garden works and conservation considerations. Crystal Palace spans multiple borough boundaries, so requirements can differ between Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. We’ll flag likely permissions, check drainage compliance (including permeable options), and advise if building control or a party wall notice may apply.
We provide a 10-year warranty on our workmanship for qualifying groundwork, including sub-base preparation, compaction, drainage installation and concrete bases when built to the agreed specification. The warranty covers defects caused by installation issues, such as settlement from inadequate compaction or incorrect falls leading to persistent pooling. It doesn’t cover damage from third-party works, extreme events, or changes to loads beyond the original design. Warranty details are confirmed in writing.
We can build bases for block paving, resin-bound, porcelain paving, natural stone, tarmac or gravel, with sub-bases matched to traffic and soil conditions. Drainage options include channel drains, soakaways, French drains and permeable build-ups to manage runoff. For retaining walls we offer concrete, brick, sleepers and reinforced block systems. We’ll recommend the right specification after checking levels, access and how you want to use the space.
Get your free, no-obligation quote today.