Kitten Rig Piling at Porsche Centre Wilmslow

Project Overview

The Dawson Foundation Engineering (DFE) team were on site at Porsche Centre Wilmslow delivering specialist piling works in a live commercial environment. With high-value vehicles surrounding the work area, the team kept focus on what mattered most – delivering a safe and compliant foundation solution.

To avoid surcharging a newly constructed retaining wall, DFE installed the piles using a kitten rig, allowing controlled installation while managing site constraints.

Scope of Works

DFE installed 300mm diameter piles to depths of up to 12.0 metres, advancing through made ground and into stiff to very stiff clay.

All piles were formed using site-batched grout and reinforced to suit the required loads, incorporating:

A 4.0m long 6H12 reinforcement cage
An 8.0m H16 central bar

Engineering & Design

All piles were designed in house by DFE’s Chartered Engineer and company owner. This ensured a coordinated design-and-install process, supporting efficient delivery and maintaining control over quality and compliance on site.

Restricted Access & Installation Approach

Using a kitten rig enabled the team to work within the constraints of the site layout and reduce the risk of additional loading near the retaining wall. This approach supported safe operations while maintaining progress and ensuring the piles were installed accurately to the required depth and specification.