Riveroak have begun work on a new 6,000 sq ft, four bedroom luxury house in Chislehurst, Kent. From the road, the property will look like many other executive homes in this leafy, up-market area to the South East of London. To comply with local planning restrictions, the roofline has to be no higher than adjacent properties which limits it to two storeys.

However its secret lies below ground level where there will be a basement pool and leisure complex that spans the entire footprint of the property. Comprising an 11 x 4m swimming pool, changing rooms, steam room, gym, a home cinema, a games room and wine store. The basement will also be accessible by lift which services all three floors.

There was an existing house on the plot when Riveroak took over the site. This had to be demolished before preparation work could begin to carry out various groundworks such as re-routing drainage. Martin Smith, Director at Riveroak says"To maximise the potential of the site and to enable us to work below the water table, we've used sheet piling in the construction of the basement, which means we've been able to go down to a depth of 5 metres within one metre of the boundary of the property. The piling retains the ground next to the basement so that digging work does not disturb adjacent properties or tree root systems."

Riveroak are fast developing a reputation as specialists in this type of hi-spec residential building, especially where bespoke swimming pools and leisure facilities are to be incorporated into the building. Riveroak has worked with this client on other properties over the last ten years and were involved closely with the architect and surveyors on the planning process right from the start, particularly in solving the technical challenges of sinking such a deep basement on the site.

Groundworks are already well advanced, the main shell of the pool and basement are nearing completion, and the property should be ready for occupation within 18 months.