During development works at the Bath Street site in the UK, Saylus Global’s subsidiary S.I UXO delivered a complete unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk mitigation programme, from initial assessment through to final resolution.
A CIRIA C681-aligned UXO desk-based risk assessment identified a clearly defined risk linked to historic aerial bombardment. Drawing on S.I UXO’s in-house historical archives, primary source research and proprietary UXO risk mapping platform, the team designed a targeted intrusive investigation to evaluate the potential hazard.
The investigation was undertaken using S.I UXO’s specialist CPT rig “Percy”, completing 174 CPT pushes to depths of up to 9.0 m across the site. Analysis of the CPT data identified a discrete subsurface anomaly at approximately 4.3 m below ground level within cohesive clay strata. Further interpretation and triangulation of the CPT responses indicated a high probability that the object represented an unexploded aerial bomb.
A carefully planned controlled excavation subsequently confirmed the presence of a World War II SC50 kg Luftwaffe aerial bomb. Appropriate safety measures were immediately implemented and close liaison was maintained with the relevant authorities to ensure the device was recovered safely and in full compliance with established procedures.
By identifying and resolving the hazard at an early stage, S.I UXO enabled the project team to manage risk proactively and avoid potential disruption during later construction activities.