5 Miles Street

Innovative piled raft solution enables superstructure to commence on programme

Located in the heart of Vauxhall, 5 Miles Street is a £42m, 452-bed student accommodation tower rising 33 storeys. Designed to offer high-quality living with extensive communal spaces, study areas, and cycle storage, the development also delivers significant improvements to the surrounding public realm.

Smart Solutions for a Constrained Site 

The site presented considerable challenges: it’s tightly bounded by existing buildings and a Network Rail viaduct, with no room for pile load testing or large equipment. Walsh responded with a piled raft solution, using high-level ground to limit deflections and avoid oversized rigs, ensuring programme certainty and structural performance.

Innovative Substructure Design

Our substructure design overcame sensitive settlement requirements and a fast-paced construction schedule. The underground drainage was placed above the raft due to boundary constraints, and water attenuation pipes were used in place of traditional tanks. Working closely with frame contractor GetJar, concrete slabs were designed with mesh reinforcement, optimising buildability and cost.

Award Recognition

The project’s engineering excellence was recognised with a Ground Engineering Award shortlist in 2017, reflecting Walsh’s commitment to delivering smart, site-specific solutions in complex urban environments.