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Case Studies

Welsh Road & Chipping Warden bypass case study

08 September, 2025

At a glance

Fusion JV, acting as enabling works contractor for a wider infrastructure project, needed access to private land for two highways schemes: improvement works on Welsh Road and the Chipping Warden Bypass

Dalcour Maclaren’s involvement

  1. Coordinating surveys and temporary access routes ahead of land possession, including land access strategies, site-specific access options and early identification of pinch points
  2. Managing landowner and tenant engagement
  3. Navigating accommodation works and impacts to ensure farming operations, property access and daily life continued undisturbed
  4. Ensuring a clear and informed handover post-construction, built on in-depth records of condition 

THE DM DIFFERENCE

We Challenge

This project took place during the COVID 19 pandemic, which introduced a unique set of challenges for our team. 

Legislative restrictions meant that we couldn’t operate the way we normally would. Usually, we pride ourselves on our human-centric approach, meeting landowners face-to-face and sitting down with them to explain the works and the requirements of the project. COVID restrictions prevented us from doing that, so we had to collaborate with the client’s in-house community engagement team to find a work around. 

We used their technological portals to connect with landowners and properly understand the complexities of the land use, not only by landowners but the wider group of farmers and growers who needed access across the roads at different times of the year. We then translated their concerns and needs for those in the boardroom, acting as the vital go-between for the client. 

We Care

A huge part of what we do is offering understanding and empathy to all parties involved in a project. As rural surveyors, we were able to see the flat, black-and-white plans drawn up in an urban office and visualise the real-world impacts that they would have on trees, gates and access routes on site. Our advice to make small changes was important for the landowners impacted by the works, but also for the client who had the opportunity to avoid costly alternatives. 

For example, this included ensuring that farm machinery such as combine harvesters were able to navigate key access points and cross areas. This kind of attention to detail saves time and money, as well as developing good working relationships between our clients and landowners. 

We Innovate

One of the benefits of DM’s turnkey land, access and engagement service is that we can bring in our experts to increase efficiency in the project., We were able to involve our geomatics team and capture data digitally using tablets, cloud-based data storage and offering real-time reporting. It meant that the client could access information much more quickly on the ground and significantly improved accuracy and efficiency.

Keeping the project wheels turning

Too often, land is the silent risk in infrastructure delivery. On Welsh Road and Chipping Warden, we were able to contribute to the successful delivery of these highways works and landowners and occupiers were engaged and respected throughout the programme. That’s the difference when you lead with relationships, rigour and reality.