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Structural engineers in Norwich

Structural calculations, surveys and design for homes, developments and commercial buildings across Norwich and Norfolk.

Chalk and historic workings

Norwich sits on chalk, and chalk was extracted beneath the city over centuries for lime and building material. The result is a network of historic tunnels, pits and workings under parts of the urban area, not all of which are recorded. Ground collapse associated with them has occurred, and it remains a genuine consideration on sites within the affected areas.

Where workings may be present, that needs establishing before a foundation strategy is settled. Chalk itself is a competent bearing material when sound, but it is susceptible to softening where water is introduced, so drainage and excavation detail matter.

Flint, brick and medieval fabric

Norwich has an exceptional stock of historic building fabric, including flint and brick construction, timber framing and a large number of listed buildings within the medieval core. Flint walls behave differently from brick: they rely heavily on the mortar matrix, they are difficult to cut cleanly, and forming an opening needs a support solution designed for that fabric rather than adapted from brickwork practice.

Work in the conservation areas and on listed fabric brings its own constraints, and the structural solution frequently has to be reversible or sympathetic as well as adequate.

Alterations and extensions

Beyond the historic core, Norwich has the usual mix of Victorian terraces, interwar semis and post-war housing, with the same domestic work as anywhere: wall removals, extensions, loft conversions.

We establish what is carrying load before designing, and on older property in this city that means paying attention to what the walls are actually made of.

Norwich

Local considerations.

What tends to govern a structural job in this area.

Historic chalk workings and tunnels beneath parts of the city
Chalk susceptible to softening where water is introduced
Flint and brick construction requiring fabric-specific detailing
Extensive listed and conservation area fabric in the medieval core

Services

The full structural remit in Norwich.

Every service is available here. Choose one to read more, or tell us your project and location.

Selected work

Real structures, surveyed and engineered.

All work →

Sport and recreationCharlton Athletic FC, The ValleyTwo steel monopitch stand roofs rising to 27 metres were assessed for a proposed solar PV installation. Both were cleared to carry the arrays as they stand, and the fragile roofs were surveyed entirely by drone with nobody working at height.

Read →

Manufacturing and industrialWienerberger, Tamworth

EducationCarlisle College

Film and mediaDragon Studios, Pencoed

Questions

Common questions

Do you cover Norwich and Norfolk?

Yes, across Norwich and the surrounding county, and nationwide.

Are the chalk workings a real concern?

Yes, in the affected areas. Historic extraction left tunnels and pits beneath parts of the city, not all recorded, and collapses have occurred. Where workings may be present it needs establishing before the foundation strategy is settled.

Can you work on flint buildings?

Yes. Flint relies heavily on its mortar matrix and is difficult to cut cleanly, so forming an opening needs a support solution designed for that fabric rather than borrowed from brickwork practice.

Do you handle listed buildings?

Yes, including work in conservation areas where the structural solution needs to be sympathetic or reversible as well as adequate.

Elsewhere in the UK