Structural and Civil Engineering Services London
From structural calculations and Building Control coordination to surveys, drainage design, planning application support and temporary works design, DVC Engineering provides the full range of structural and civil engineering services for residential and commercial clients across London and the South East.
Civil engineering in-house, not bolted on
DVC Engineering is a structural and civil engineering consultancy. That means drainage, SuDS, retaining wall and external works design are held in-house and coordinated with the structural frame and foundations under a single appointment. The below-ground and structural elements of your project align, reducing clashes, rework and queries from Building Control and the local planning authority.
Civil engineering is also available alongside every structural package, so drainage and below-ground infrastructure can be delivered with the structural design under one fixed-fee appointment.
Structural Calculations and Drawings
We prepare structural calculations and coordinated drawings for residential and commercial projects, covering the full scope of structural design from concept through to a package suitable for Building Control submission and construction. Our calculations are produced in accordance with the Eurocodes and UK Building Regulations, and our drawings are coordinated with architectural plans to ensure the information on site is unambiguous and buildable.
View full service details- Steel beam and column design for wall removals, extensions, and alterations
- Foundation design for new and extended structures
- Timber joist, rafter, and floor design
- Reinforced concrete design where required
- Connection, bearing, and padstone details
- Building Control submission packages
Load-Bearing Wall Removal
Removing a load-bearing wall changes the load path through a building. The forces previously carried by the wall must be redirected via a steel or timber beam, which in turn requires adequate bearing and foundation support below. Without proper structural engineering, the results range from excessive deflection and cracking to partial structural failure. We assess the loads, design the appropriate beam and bearing arrangement, and produce the calculations and details required for Building Control approval.
Building Regulations require structural calculations before a load-bearing wall can be legally removed. Without an approved submission, the works cannot be signed off, which creates complications at the point of sale or remortgage.
View full service details- Load assessment and beam sizing calculations
- Steel or timber beam specification
- Padstone and bearing detail design
- Foundation checks for new load concentrations
- Temporary propping design during construction
- Full Building Control submission package
Loft Conversions and Dormers
A loft conversion places habitable load onto a structure that was designed for storage. The existing roof timbers, ceiling joists, and supporting walls all require assessment, and new steelwork is typically needed to form the ridge beam, support the conversion floor, and create the staircase opening. Dormers introduce additional complexity, as the structural frame must accommodate the new roof and wall loads without transferring them in a way that causes deflection or cracking in the structure below.
View full service details- Ridge beam and purlin design
- Conversion floor joist assessment and strengthening
- Staircase opening steelwork
- Dormer structural frame design
- Party wall structural considerations
- Building Control calculations and drawings
Extensions
Rear, side, and wraparound extensions require structural design at every stage: from the foundations supporting the new structure, through to the roof steelwork, the structural openings between old and new, and the connection details at the junction. The interface between existing and new construction is where most problems arise, including differential settlement, inadequate bearing, and poorly designed openings. Proper structural engineering addresses these risks before they become site problems.
View full service details- Rear, side, and wraparound extension design
- Single and double storey structural frames
- Foundation design for new and existing structures
- Structural opening design between old and new
- Roof steelwork and connection details
- Building Control submission packages
Structural Reports and Inspections
We provide concise, engineer-led structural reports based on observed evidence and professional judgement. Our reports are written clearly and tailored to the specific issue, not produced from a generic template. We carry out structural inspections for a range of purposes including pre-purchase surveys, crack and movement assessments, mortgage-related structural opinions, and structural adequacy statements for insurance or planning purposes.
View full service details- Pre-purchase and homebuyer structural reports
- Crack and movement assessments
- Structural condition surveys
- Load-bearing wall identification
- Structural adequacy statements
- Subsidence and settlement investigations
Foundation Design
The foundation transfers the entire weight of a structure into the ground, and its design depends on ground conditions, the nature of the load, and proximity to drainage, trees, and adjoining structures. Incorrect foundation design is the most costly structural failure to correct: remediation typically involves underpinning, which is both disruptive and expensive. We design foundations appropriate to the specific site conditions, incorporating ground investigation findings where available.
View full service details- Strip and trench fill foundation design
- Piled foundation specifications
- Underpinning design and sequencing
- Ground-bearing capacity assessments
- Tree proximity and clay heave considerations
- Coordination with geotechnical information
Temporary Works Design
During structural alterations, the existing building frequently requires temporary support while permanent works are installed. Temporary works are not an informal site arrangement: they require proper engineering, and both Building Control and the HSE expect them to be designed by a competent engineer. We prepare temporary works designs for wall removals, excavations, and structural alterations, in accordance with BS 5975.
View full service details- Propping design for load-bearing wall removals
- Shoring specifications for excavations
- Temporary bracing during steel erection
- Method statements and risk assessments
- Compliance with BS 5975
Building Control Support and Liaison
Building Control queries are among the most common causes of project delay. Incomplete or ambiguous submissions are held up, revised, and resubmitted, adding weeks to the programme. Our submissions are thorough, technically robust, and structured to address the questions a Building Control inspector is likely to ask before they ask them. Where queries do arise, we respond promptly and directly, keeping the approval process on track.
View full service details- Full Building Control submission packages
- Technical query preparation and responses
- Ongoing liaison with Building Control officers
- Coordination with architects and contractors
- Inspection attendance when required
Measured Surveys
We provide measured surveys to accurately record the existing building layout and dimensions. These surveys form a reliable basis for architectural design, planning applications, and structural calculations. All outputs are clear, scaled, and issued in digital format suitable for use by the wider design team.
Measured surveys can be combined with structural design services, streamlining the flow from existing conditions through to completed design.
View full service details- Internal and external measured surveys
- Floor plans, elevations, and cross-sections
- Accurate dimensional data for architects and designers
- Suitable for planning and structural design
- Coordinated digital drawings issued in standard formats
Civil Engineering
Below-ground civil engineering for residential and commercial projects, covering foul and surface water drainage design, SuDS strategies and soakaway design to BRE 365, retaining wall design to Eurocode 7, external works and hardstanding, sewer build-over applications, and infrastructure and utilities coordination. Our civil engineering work is coordinated with the structural design so that drainage, levels and below-ground elements align with the structural frame and foundations.
View full service details- Below-ground foul and surface water drainage design
- SuDS strategies and soakaway design to BRE 365
- Retaining wall design to Eurocode 7
- External works and hardstanding design
- Sewer build-over and close-to agreement support
- Infrastructure and utilities coordination
Planning Applications
Planning application support from existing and proposed drawings through to submission and condition discharge. We prepare householder and full planning applications, coordinate the planning submission with the structural design, discharge planning conditions including drainage and SuDS conditions, and provide continuity through to Building Control. The result is a coherent application package that addresses the planning authority's requirements without leaving gaps between planning, civil and structural design.
View full service details- Existing and proposed planning drawings
- Householder and full planning applications
- Planning submissions coordinated with structural design
- Discharge of planning conditions including drainage and SuDS
- Liaison with the local planning authority
- Continuity from planning through to Building Control
Party Wall Surveys
Party wall advice and surveying services under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. We identify which sections of the Act apply to your works, prepare and serve Section 1, 2 and 6 notices, produce schedules of condition, and agree party wall awards where an adjoining owner dissents. The party wall process is coordinated with the structural design so that notifiable elements, including beam bearings, underpinning and excavation near neighbouring foundations, are identified early and handled within the construction programme.
View full service details- Section 1, 2 and 6 notice preparation and service
- Schedules of condition for adjoining properties
- Party wall awards and agreed surveyor appointments
- Identification of notifiable works within the structural design
- Coordination of beam bearings, underpinning and excavation
- Liaison with adjoining owners and their surveyors
Boundary Surveys
Boundary surveys and measured site surveys carried out with a Leica TS13 robotic total station, providing millimetre-accurate boundary line determination, topographical surveys for planning and design, level surveys and movement monitoring. Survey drawings are issued in PDF and DWG, coordinated with the structural and civil engineering design and tied to permanent reference points.
View full service details- Millimetre-accurate boundary line determination
- Topographical surveys for planning and design
- Level surveys and movement monitoring
- Leica TS13 robotic total station surveying
- Drawings issued in PDF and DWG
- Coordination with structural and civil engineering design