A model of the development from the Station Road East entrance. On the far right is Block A with adjoining Block B to the left and Block C front left, sitting in beautifully landscaped gardens. Access to Blocks A and B are via the current Station Ro… — A model of the development from the Station Road East entrance. On the far right is Block A with adjoining Block B to the left and Block C front left, sitting in beautifully landscaped gardens. Access to Blocks A and B are via the current Station Road East entrance whilst Block C is accessed independently via the Johnsdale entrance.

My first visit of 2020 to the Oxted Courtyard Gardens development site took place on Friday 24 January on an overcast day. A lot had changed since my last visit back in early December when the piling was nearing completion and the second tower crane was about to be installed. Although the site was closed for two weeks over the Christmas break I did notice a significant change, read on to find out more.

The following photographs all have captions on top to tell you more about the procedures in place for the 111 high-quality apartments.

The foundations for the underground car park at the back of the shops in Station Road East where Block A is located.

The two tower cranes used for moving materials from the furthest points on site.

The piling completed for Block A with the pile caps visible.

Some of the pile caps for Block A. This will form a pillar in the underground car park.

A view of where the steel cages are made and where Block B will be located

The second tower crane was installed in a day, the preparation to install the base took two weeks. The two piling rigs are no longer on-site as all the pilling is complete.

Making the cages that form the pile caps.

Finished cages.

This is blog number 13, just a brief recap in case you haven’t been following them.

I started writing my blogs in January 2019 when the demolition of the gasholder - which was previously on the site for over 50 years - commenced as a personal project for posterity. I have a long and deep connection with Oxted as my studio in Station Road East, which I moved away from in August 2019 after 23 years, backed onto the site, and ever since I took the lease on the premises at the end of 1996 I heard about how the gasholder site may one day be developed and I was not going to miss the opportunity to photographically document this, which has become a fascinating and enlightening project.

During each of my site visits, I always learn more about the construction process and all the skills that are employed along the way to ensure everything complies with building regulations, health and safety, and all the other regulations to monitor the air quality and vibrations to name only a few.

The development will be completed at the end of Summer 2021 and the show apartment will be ready for viewing this Summer with over 50% of the apartments already sold.

This mobile concrete pump was hired for the day to assist with depositing large quantities of concrete via a long arm into the base of Block C.

The concrete is poured via this arm into a cage to form a pile cap under Block C.

The concrete is poured into a cage to form a pile cap under Block C.

The foundations of the underground car park of Block C.

Foundations in place for Block A showing the piling caps.

Steel cages are constructed on site, and are surrounded underground by concrete to form a pile cap.

The two cranes are used to move objects from one part of the site to the other with ease and precision.

A view looking up to where Block A will sit, the portacabins will be relocated down the site as the development progresses.

The underground car park of Block C.

The pile cap, the bars poking out the top are column starter bars. The blue columns are dewatering wells to assist with the ground water levels.

Another angle of the development from the left of the Johnsdale entrance, the apartments are behind Station Road East, clearly showing Block C on the right with Block B on the left with Block A adjoining it. All the apartments are being built with u… — Another angle of the development from the left of the Johnsdale entrance, the apartments are behind Station Road East, clearly showing Block C on the right with Block B on the left with Block A adjoining it. All the apartments are being built with underground allocated parking.

My previous blog showed the finishing of the base for this crane to be installed.

The foundations have to be immensely strong to support the tower crane, especially as the site is exposed to harsh winds and the elements.

The two tower cranes work together to save time moving materials accross the site.

Look towards Block A with the foundations completed.

A view from the portacabins towards Block C showing the arm from the concrete pump depositing to the base concrete.

The underground car parks for Block C on the left and Block B far right.

A view from behind the flats at the bottom of Station Road East shows another angle of Block C.

On the far left showing the entrance to Block C, behind the houses in Johnsdale.

A view of the site from the Johnsdale entrance showing Block C on the right and Block B on the left with Block A adjoining Block B. All 111 high-quality apartments enjoy a private outside space.

There are two separate entrances to the development. Blocks A and B via the current Station Road East entrance and Block C via the current Johnsdale entrance, there is no cross over point between Block C to Blocks A and B due to the different levels. The landscaped gardens are communal.

If you would like to find out more about purchasing one or just to satisfy your curiosity, call into Robert Leech Estate Agents on Station Road East, you’ll also get to see the model of the development, they are very friendly in there, just ask to speak to Suzanne Buck from the St William Group or her colleague Geraldine Nightingale both assigned to the development.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back again next month with my February site visit.

Thanks for reading.

Stella

Featured