Canal & River Groundwork

Aarsleff's Expertise

Canal and river groundwork plays a vital role in maintaining the safety, stability, and function of the UK’s waterway infrastructure. From protecting embankments and supporting navigation routes to enabling new development near rivers and canals, these works are essential for both heritage preservation and modern infrastructure.

As a trusted contractor within the utilities and infrastructure sectors, Aarsleff delivers tailored canal and river groundwork solutions across the UK. Our services are designed to maximise resilience, prevent erosion, and ensure long-term structural integrity in complex waterway environments. With expertise in stabilising canal walls, reinforcing towpaths, and operating within inland water systems—including aqueducts, tunnels, and lock networks—we deliver engineered solutions with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency.

canalside apartments

Ground Engineering Capabilities

Delivering effective groundwork in canal and river settings requires in-depth geotechnical knowledge, robust engineering design, and a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Our solutions help to prepare sites for development, ensuring they meet stringent regulatory standards before construction begins. This is particularly critical in projects involving new towpaths, moorings, or flood defence infrastructure, where soil variability can jeopardise the performance of entire systems if not adequately addressed. Our engineering practices also contribute to the stability and function of canal systems, especially where fluctuating water levels may present additional risks.

We offer a range of ground engineering techniques, including:

These services play a vital role in embankment stabilisation and erosion control, reducing the risk of collapses that could threaten waterway operations or cause environmental harm. Aarsleff maintains an environmentally responsible approach, working to actively minimise disruption to habitats and reduce carbon emissions across our schemes.

Retaining Wall Solutions

Robust and lasting retaining walls for canals and rivers are central to preserving embankment integrity, maintaining waterway safety, and supporting surrounding infrastructure.

We design and install a variety of retaining wall systems to meet project-specific requirements:

Our retaining wall solutions are engineered to resist water pressure, soil movement, and weather extremes, helping preserve the integrity and function of the surrounding environment and infrastructure.

river trent cofferdam

Piling Services for Canal and River Projects

Where structures are located on or near water, or where ground conditions are poor, piling becomes essential. As a specialist piling contractor, our operations support a broad range of canal and river infrastructure. Our expertise also extends to marine piling solutions, enabling us to work confidently in challenging marine and riverine environments.

We provide:

Our marine piling expertise enables us to work confidently in tidal, riverine, or inland waterway environments, delivering piling solutions for bridges, lock gates, riverbank structures, and more.

We also offer full pile testing services, including static and dynamic load testing, to validate capacity and performance, ensuring complete confidence in every project.

Examples of Canal & River Projects

Since our establishment, Aarsleff have completed many canal and river groundwork projects across the UK. Our diverse portfolio showcases our adaptability and technical capability across a variety of environments and structures. From heritage canal systems to new infrastructure, our projects showcase our depth of experience. Click on a project to read its full details.

Partner with Aarsleff

Whether you’re upgrading historic canal infrastructure or developing new riverfront projects, Aarsleff provides the technical capabilities and trusted experience to deliver successful outcomes.

From ground investigation to retaining structures and piling installations, we manage every aspect of your canal and river groundwork scheme with care, precision, and efficiency.

Contact our team today to discuss your requirements and discover how we can support your next project with industry-leading geotechnical expertise.

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A leading UK ground engineering specialist, focusing on multi-discipline excellence and value engineering. We design and deliver some of the UK’s largest ground engineering projects.

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Our vision is to bring confidence to those constructing the landscape of tomorrow .

An Aarsleff construction worker wearing a high-visibility jacket and hard hat on a site.

1947. Central Jutland, Denmark. Per Aarsleff borrowed 10,000 Danish Kroner from his father’s life insurance, bought an excavator, and founded Northern Europe’s leading contracting company.

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Our biggest asset, our team is composed of the leading experts in ground engineering. Working with collaboration and cohesion at the core of our business, we can guarantee a quick and founded answer to all your questions.

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We recruit and reward our people based on our ‘Step into the Blue’ company culture, where we embrace the core values of Life and Health, Trust, and Responsibility.

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We do everything to ensure our team and yours work safely on our sites. With our core value of Life & Health, we see safety as a cultural pillar.

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Our ISO accreditations are an assurance to you that we take governance seriously. Read our policies to discover more.

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The projects that keep society running. Bridges, buildings, transit and rail facilities, embankment support, marine and offshore facilities, mines, airports, and water projects.

Close-up view of steel reinforcement cages at a construction site. A yellow KLEMM drilling rig is in the background.

Keeping things turning. Sewage Treatment Works, Waste Water Treatment Works, Wind Farms and Wind Turbines, Biomass Plants, and Power stations.

Aarsleff's Junttan PM 20HLC piling rig in operation with two workers present. Another piling rig can be seen in the background.

Meeting society’s needs. Nursing and care homes, MOD buildings, Schools and Universities, and small or large-sized residential developments.

Three piling rigs positioned on a muddy site under a blue sky. Construction workers are seen near the rigs.

Staying on the move. Remediation, bridges, and foundation work are integral to keeping the industry running smoothly.

Aarsleff worker kneeing down on one knee with a yellow piling rig and concrete piles in the background. The worker is wearing high-visibility clothing and a white hard hat.

The landscape of the marketplace. Mega-retail sheds, distribution warehouses, University accommodation, and major supermarket and household name units.

Commercial piling projects

Keeping things afloat. Ports and harbours, coastal defences, river embankments and inland waterways.

An aerial view of the Port of Hanstholm.