Construction materials group GRS has acquired ground stabilisation and enabling works contractor Soil Science Ltd.

The bolt-on acquisition complements GRS’s growing portfolio of contracting services for the construction industry, which includes enabling works, earthworks, civil engineering and land remediation.

Berkshire-based Soil Science has a £6m turnover and has pioneered a low carbon, zero waste and easily reversible soil treatment for temporary construction works such as compounds, access roads, piling mats and crane pads.

The Sureground inert soil treatment system reduces the need for contractors to move large volumes of materials off and onto site during temporary enabling works. As a result it has up to 70% lower carbon impact, results in zero waste and can slash works programme times by as much as half.

Sureground is ideal for infrastructure works such as power, water, rail and data networks that need to go across farmland and nature-sensitive landscapes.

Jon Fisher, GRS Chief Executive, said: “Soil Science is a dynamic business that’s disrupting the soil stabilisation sector with a proven and cost-effective turnkey solution. We’re hugely impressed by Sureground as a more sustainable alternative to traditional techniques for stabilising ground. Soil Science fits well with other activities in our Integrated Solutions division and we’re excited about growing this business together.”

Bill Hinge, founder of Soil Science Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be joining the GRS Group. The deal gives us financial stability and gives Sureground great credibility in our sector.

“This means that our customers can have greater confidence in our capacity and capability to support major infrastructure projects in the long term. We’re looking forward to working with the GRS Integrated Solutions team to grow the business and accelerate the adoption of Sureground.”

GRS has grown rapidly from its aggregates and waste trading roots to become a full-service supply chain partner to the construction industry with a turnover of more than £500m.