Business Details
26 Years
experience
Expert Geotechnical & Environmental Consultancy Services
Terra Firma South is a privately owned geotechnical and environmental engineering consultancy established in 2000. Operating from Exeter and Cardiff, we deliver tailored solutions across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors nationwide. Our team of skilled engineers combines decades of industry experience with cutting-edge research to address complex ground engineering challenges. We maintain rigorous quality assurance standards, prioritise environmental sustainability, and foster a culture of equality and continuous professional development.Our technical expertise spans site investigations, contaminated land assessments, and geotechnical design, supported by strategic partnerships with regulatory bodies. With a proven track record in both brownfield and greenfield developments, we provide cost-effective, compliant solutions for projects ranging from small-scale residential schemes to major infrastructure initiatives.
Services
Site Investigation
Geotechnical Engineering
Contaminated Land Assessment
Environmental Audits
Earthworks Design
Foundation Analysis
Ground Stabilisation
Radon Surveys
Waste Classification
Remediation Strategy
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of specialist experience in geotechnical engineering
- Our team holds advanced qualifications in contaminated land risk assessment
- We maintain ISO 9001-compliant quality management systems
- We provide nationwide coverage with regional office expertise
- We combine field investigations with advanced computational modelling
Services
Site Investigation
We design and implement comprehensive site investigations using trial pitting, drilling, and geophysical surveys. Our techniques include cable percussive drilling, cone penetration testing, and real-time ground monitoring. This provides critical data for foundation design and contamination assessment across residential and commercial developments.
Contaminated Land Assessment
Our four-phase assessment process identifies contamination risks through historical analysis, field sampling, and laboratory testing. We develop remediation strategies compliant with Part IIA EPA 1990, using software like CLEA and MODFLOW to model contamination pathways and validate cleanup effectiveness.
Geotechnical Engineering
We conduct laboratory soil and rock testing to inform foundation design, bearing capacity calculations, and slope stability assessments. Our services cover soakaway design, buried concrete specifications, and settlement predictions using FLOWNET groundwater modelling for infrastructure projects.
Environmental Assessment
We evaluate environmental impacts through landfill gas monitoring, radon surveys, and Japanese knotweed assessments. Our contributions to EIAs ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, incorporating ecological considerations into development planning for sustainable outcomes.
Earthworks Design
We design and supervise earthworks including ground stabilisation, compaction, and drainage solutions. Our team conducts in-situ testing (DCP, CBR) to verify load-bearing capacity, ensuring compliance with construction specifications for residential and infrastructure projects.
Questions
What geotechnical services do you offer?
We provide site appraisals, soil testing, foundation design, settlement calculations, and ground stabilisation solutions for residential and commercial developments.
How do you assess contaminated land?
Our phased approach includes preliminary risk assessments, quantitative analysis, remediation strategy development, and validation using industry-standard software.
Do you handle environmental impact assessments?
Yes, we conduct gas regime assessments, radon surveys, ecological evaluations, and contribute to Environmental Impact Assessments for planning applications.
What areas do you cover?
We operate nationwide with regional offices in Exeter and Portsmouth, supporting projects from Cornwall to Cumbria.
Are you accredited for quality standards?
Our quality management systems align with ISO 9001 requirements, ensuring consistent delivery of technical excellence.