The Crofton

About this project

The Crofton is a new development located on Orpington High Street, replacing the existing 1970s retail premises with a mixed-use building comprising retail and office space on the ground floor, and 40 residential apartments across five stories.

BDC was appointed as civil and structural engineering consultants for the detailed design of the structure and below-ground drainage, including the installation of new foul and surface water connections into the mains sewers located beneath the High Street.

The site presented significant constraints, with three sides of the development extending to the boundary and limited rear access via a steep slope. A narrow private road beside the building had to remain operational throughout the construction, and an existing substation on site, which had not been included in the planning proposals, added further complexity.

As the client’s first new build project, BDC worked closely with both the technical and construction teams to identify and mitigate the risks associated with the site’s constraints. We helped develop and coordinate a practical, cost-effective engineering solution that ensured continued access during construction and minimised the need for temporary works.

To address the restricted access, the tower crane was integrated into the permanent design, housed within one of the stair cores, facilitating the construction of the building’s shell and core.