Kemp Completes Work On Royal Parade Project

We have officially completed our work on Royal Parade in Plymouth, which is a project that’s been years in the making for our team. From establishing the original survey control back in 2021 to

delivering setting out for the final phase in 2026, we’ve supported this scheme from the beginning.

Laying the Foundations

Back in 2021, our team worked alongside Morgan Sindall on the redevelopment of the pedestrianised areas along Royal Parade.

Our role was to establish accurate survey control across the site and provide a clear station listing and plan to support the works. Survey control acts as the backbone of any project, creating a network of precisely measured points that ensures every element of construction is positioned correctly and consistently.

It was a memorable project for the team, not least because it involved driving a scissor lift right through the middle of Plymouth which isn’t something you get to do every day.

Supporting the Final Phase

Fast forward to July 2025, and Kemp returned to site to support C2 Construction with the next stage of Royal Parade’s transformation, remaining on site through this final phase to project completion in February 2026.

This phase focused on improving bus routes through Plymouth city centre, helping to create a more efficient and accessible transport network.

Our role was to deliver setting out across the site, ensuring all elements of the construction were built accurately and in line with the client’s specified tolerances. This included supporting concrete works, hard landscaping and drainage, while also carrying out key survey checks, such as locating underground services.

Overcoming Challenges in a Live Environment

Working in a busy city centre environment brought a number of challenges.

With restricted working areas, only half of the pavement could be closed at any one time, requiring careful coordination to maintain safe pedestrian access. Existing underground services also presented obstacles, with some foundations needing to be repositioned to avoid clashes. In these instances, we worked closely with the design team to develop practical, buildable solutions.

Achieving design levels for finished tarmac proved challenging in certain areas while maintaining minimum thickness requirements. To overcome this, we carried out

targeted surveys and proposed revised levels that maintained correct falls while meeting highway standards.

At the start of the project, we also identified that the design was based upon multiple topographical surveys by others that had not been correctly combined, meaning the design did not align with site conditions throughout the area. To resolve this, we surveyed key features across the site, including kerbs and manholes in addition to any original control stations, and made numerous adjustments to resolve the issue. This resulted in the creation of two separate grid systems and control files to ensure the design and site data could be aligned and set out accurately moving forward.

“It was a challenging job at times, working in tight spaces, dealing with services clashes and keeping everything running in a live city centre, but being on site from start to finish and seeing it all come together made it a really rewarding project to be part of.” – Ollie, Setting Out Engineer

As with any city centre project, we also had to manage day-to-day interactions with members of the public, adding another layer of complexity to the works.

Precision from Start to Finish

Unlike many modern projects, no GPS was used on site. Instead, all works were carried out using total stations, ensuring a consistently high level of accuracy.

Our team supported the project from start to finish, maintaining precision and reliability throughout every stage of construction.

A Project Delivered

From establishing the original survey control in 2021 to completing the final setting out works in 2026, Kemp has played a key role in the delivery of Royal Parade’s transformation.

It’s a project that highlights not only the importance of strong survey foundations, but also the value of continuity, with our team supporting the scheme at both the beginning and the end.

“A heroic effort – Ollie was an absolute pleasure to work with over the past seven months. Thank you for all the hard work, and we look forward to working together again.” – Scott, C2 Construction

We’re proud to have contributed to a project that will have a lasting impact on Plymouth’s city centre, helping to improve infrastructure and create a more accessible environment for those who use it every day.