The first project - applying cathodic protection to a series of crossheads on the M4 flyover at Chiswick - called for what the magazine New Civil Engineercalled "Houdini-like dexterity and lateral thinking".

Birse Civils and Scottish & Southern Energy have just energised a primary substation in the Thames Gateway, where previously, a bottleneck in the distributed electrical supply was hindering the ongoing redevelopment of the area.

During the early contract involment stage it was decided to opt out of the conventional means of installing the gantry bases and to come up with an alternative.

Birse Civils were engaged to work in partnership to remediate the site and create a 5 ha residential development platform for 150 homes.

Achieving an outstanding Considerate Constructors score of 99%, this sustainable scheme was completed 15 weeks early and within budget.

Specialist treatment of mineworkings to facilitate delivery of new bypass.