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Allen Watson Allen Watson
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42 Years
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Trusted Trenchless Construction Solutions in London
Established in 1984, Allen Watson has become a leader in trenchless 'no-dig' construction services. As part of the Cappagh Group, we specialise in delivering innovative solutions for water, gas, and electricity infrastructure projects across the UK. Our expertise spans guided auger boring, directional drilling, and pipe ramming, with over 40 years of experience completing thousands of installations under challenging conditions. We operate from strategic locations in London, South Yorkshire, and Essex, ensuring nationwide coverage for civil engineering contractors and construction firms.

Our market leadership is demonstrated through successful projects on major infrastructure schemes including Crossrail, where we've provided precision trenchless solutions since 2010. Our technical capabilities include installing pipelines from 25mm to 1,200mm diameter over distances up to 1,500m, with a commitment to minimising environmental impact compared to traditional excavation methods. We maintain strong partnerships with leading names in rail, utilities, and construction sectors, delivering cost-effective installations that meet exacting industry standards.
Services
Guided Auger Boring Directional Drilling Pipe Ramming Pipe Bursting Trenchless Installation
Details
  • Year established: 1984
Highlights and features
  • We have over 40 years of specialist trenchless drilling experience
  • Our RISQS accreditation demonstrates rail industry compliance
  • We operate nationwide from strategic locations in London, Yorkshire and Essex
  • We own advanced directional drilling equipment with 14te-300te pullback forces
  • We deliver cost-effective installations with minimal environmental disruption
Associations and certifications
  • RISQS
Website
Services
Guided Auger Boring
Our guided auger boring service provides accurate pipeline installations with 25mm precision over distances up to 120m. Using jacking forces from 85te to 260te, we install vitrified clay, steel, PE, concrete or GRP pipes ranging from 100mm to 914mm diameter. This trenchless method causes no surface disruption, making it ideal for crossings under railways, roads, rivers and environmentally sensitive areas.
Directional Drilling
Our horizontal directional drilling (HDD) service installs pipelines from 25mm to 1,200mm diameter over distances up to 1,500m. With equipment ranging from 14te to 300te pullback force, we complete installations without surface disruption. This environmentally-friendly method avoids costly excavation, particularly suitable for river crossings, railway installations and highway projects across the UK and Ireland.
Pipe Ramming
Our pipe ramming service installs steel sleeve pipes and casing ducts through challenging ground conditions. Capable of handling pipes up to 1,600mm diameter and 130m length, this no-dig technique operates from pits or above ground level. It's particularly effective for drainage culverts and service installations under railways, roads and contaminated sites without requiring thrust walls.
Pipe Bursting
Our pipe bursting service replaces aging underground utilities with minimal excavation. Using pneumatic, hydraulic or static pull methods, we can replace sewer, water or gas pipes while increasing capacity through upsizing. This trenchless technology displaces existing pipes into surrounding ground while installing new pipelines, significantly reducing project time and costs compared to traditional methods.
Trenchless Installation
Our comprehensive trenchless installation services cover multiple techniques including auger boring, directional drilling and pipe ramming. These methods enable pipeline installations from 25mm to 1,600mm diameter under various obstacles while maintaining surface integrity. We specialise in challenging environments like contaminated land, protected areas and busy urban infrastructure with minimal disruption.
Questions
What trenchless services do you offer?
We provide guided auger boring, horizontal directional drilling, pipe ramming, pipe bursting and other no-dig techniques for pipeline installation and replacement across the UK.
How many years have you been in business?
We've been delivering trenchless construction solutions since 1984, with over 40 years of experience in the no-dig industry.
Which areas do you cover?
We operate nationwide across the UK from our offices in London, South Yorkshire and Essex, serving civil engineering contractors and utility providers.
What pipe sizes can you install?
Our trenchless methods handle pipe diameters from 25mm up to 1,600mm over distances ranging from 15m to 1,500m depending on the installation method.
Are you RISQS accredited?
Yes, we're RISQS accredited suppliers to the rail industry, having completed numerous projects on Britain's rail network including the Crossrail scheme.