Structural | Civil | Engineering | Social and Affordable Housing | Commercial | Drainage | Residential | Subsidence | Highway Design

Latest News
Chelsea Flower Show - 2011
We were pleased to be involved with the Principality of Monaco in providing the structural information for Sarah Eberle to design her typical Monaco garden in this years show. The design was a great sucess and won a gold medal in its class.

This was in no small way due to the floating cantilever staircase and 8 metre long suspended garden, all achieved with hidden structural steelwork. ( Click here to see more!)

Affordable Housing
Due to the continued demand for affordable housing (and therefore the financial security associated with it), many developers not usually connected to this sector are now turning to it, having seen it as an opportunity.
However as those who have been involved in this sector for many years will testify, it comes with its own special challenges.

At Gemma BDS, we pride ourselves on our many years of experience and good working relationships with the Housing Associations, Developers, Contractors and Architects in this sector that deliver quality housing and care facilities.

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Highway Schemes
You might not know that Gemma BDS also offers expertise and services for highway schemes.

We have experience in roundabouts, junction improvements and traffic signal installations associated with new developments, but also as standalone highway improvements for Local Authorities and Developers - from conception through to tendering, administration and inspection.

Achievements in 2010/2011
During the year we saw several major projects start on site, including the long term redevelopment of a suburb of Reading that will take the best part of 8 years to complete via a process of decanting occupants into new buildings and demolishing their abandoned buildings. We have completed the design of Phase 1, whose construction will continue well into 2012.
We have also formed relationships with several new clients, and have been involved in a major display garden at the 2011 Chelsea flower show financed by the Principality of Monaco.
Staff levels have dropped due to natural wastage, but despite difficult trading conditions we have not had to make any staff redundant.

Flood Water Management Act 2010
This act is due to come into force across the country in the near future. It will change both the rules for designing surface water drainage and the amount of drainage being adopted. The use of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS ) will become more rigorously enforced anc more drainage strategies will have to be agreed pre planning before a planning permission is granted.
Our early involvement in schemes will help to ensure a smooth passage through planning with minimum redesign to accommodate drainage requirements.

A look to the future
We have a healthy forward order book into 2012 with several schemes waiting for funding certainty from regular Housing Association clients.