A F Howland Associates

Established in 1981, we specialise in geotechnical engineering. Offering expertise in soft and hard rock conditions, tackling challenges such as roads, tunnels, earthworks, slope stability, and foundations. Our services include management contracting for civil engineering investigations, serving both public and private sector clients on projects ranging from one-off builds to major term contracts.

We also provide consultancy in geotechnics, geo-environmental, and hydrogeological engineering, delivering practical solutions trusted by clients and contractors alike.

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Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Site Investigation with A F Howland Associates.

Why choose A F Howland Associates?

At A F Howland Associates, we are committed to delivering high-quality geotechnical, geo-environmental, and site investigation services tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. With decades of experience, state-of-the-art technology, and a team of skilled professionals, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner for projects across the UK.

England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Eire, UK, Great Britain
Avon, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, City of Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumberland, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, Durham, East Suffolk, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Hampshire (County of Southampton), Hereford and Worcester, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Humberside, Huntingdon and Peterborough, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Ely, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, Parts of Holland, Lincolnshire, Parts of Kesteven, Lincolnshire, Parts of Lindsey, London, City of London, Merseyside, Middlesex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, North Humberside, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Soke of Peterborough, Rutland, Shropshire (Salop), Somerset, South Humberside, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Tyne and Wear, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Westmorland, West Suffolk, West Sussex, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire, East Riding, Yorkshire, North Riding, Yorkshire, West Riding
Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Chester, Chichester, Coventry, Derby, Durham, Ely, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Kingston upon Hull, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, Liverpool, City of London, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Ripon, Salford, Salisbury, Sheffield, Southampton, St Albans, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Truro, Wakefield, Wells, City of Westminster, Winchester, Wolverhampton, Worcester, York
Attleborough, Aylsham, Cromer, Dereham, Diss, Downham Market, Fakenham, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Hingham, Holt, Hunstanton, King’s Lynn, Loddon, North Walsham, Redenhall with Harleston, Reepham, Sheringham, Stalham, Swaffham, Thetford, Thorpe St Andrew, Watton, Wells-next-the-Sea, Wymondham
Aldeburgh, Beccles, Brandon, Bungay, Bury St Edmunds, Carlton Colville, Clare, Dunwich, Eye, Felixstowe, Framlingham, Hadleigh, Halesworth, Haverhill, Ipswich, Kesgrave, Leiston, Lowestoft, Mildenhall, Needham Market, Newmarket, Orford, Saxmundham, Southwold, Stowmarket, Sudbury, Woodbridge
Cambridge, Chatteris, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, March, Ramsey, Soham, St Ives, St Neots, Whittlesey, Wisbech
Ampthill, Arlesey, Bedford, Biggleswade, Dunstable, Flitwick, Houghton Regis, Kempston, Leighton-Linslade, Luton, Potton, Sandy, Shefford, Stotfold, Woburn, Bracknell, Earley, Eton, Hungerford, Maidenhead, Newbury, Reading, Sandhurst, Slough, Thatcham, Windsor, Wokingham, Woodley, Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Bletchley and Fenny Stratford, Buckingham, Chesham, High Wycombe, Marlow, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, Olney, Princes Risborough, Stony Stratford, Wendover, Winslow, Woburn Sands, Wolverton and Greenleys, Alsager, Birchwood, Bollington, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Middlewich, Nantwich, Neston, Northwich, Poynton-with-Worth, Sandbach, Warrington, Widnes, Winsford, Bodmin, Bude-Stratton, Callington, Camborne, Camelford, Falmouth, Fowey, Hayle, Helston, Launceston, Liskeard, Looe, Lostwithiel, Marazion, Newlyn, Newquay, Padstow, Penryn, Penzance, Porthleven, Redruth, Saltash, St Austell, St Blaise, St Columb Major, St Ives, St Just-in-Penwith, St Mawes, Wadebridge, Alston, Ambleside, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Aspatria, Barrow-in-Furness, Brampton, Broughton-in-Furness, Cleator Moor, Cockermouth, Dalton Town with Newton, Egremont, Grange-over-Sands, Kendal, Keswick, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Longtown, Maryport, Millom, Penrith, Sedbergh, Silloth, Ulverston, Whitehaven, Wigton, Windermere, Workington, Alfreton, Ashbourne, Bakewell, Belper, Bolsover, Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Chesterfield, Clay Cross, Darley Dale, Dronfield, Glossop, Heanor and Loscoe, Ilkeston, Matlock, New Mills, Ripley, Sandiacre, Shirebrook, Staveley, Whaley Bridge, Wirksworth, Ashburton, Axminster, Barnstaple, Bideford, Bovey Tracey, Bradninch, Brixham, Buckfastleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Chagford, Chudleigh, Chulmleigh, Colyton, Crediton, Cullompton, Dartmouth, Dawlish, Exmouth, Great Torrington, Hartland, Hatherleigh, Holsworthy, Honiton, Ilfracombe, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Lynton and Lynmouth, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, North Tawton, Northam, Okehampton, Ottery St Mary, Paignton, Salcombe, Seaton, Sidmouth, South Molton, Tavistock, Teignmouth, Tiverton, Topsham, Torpoint, Torquay, Totnes, Beaminster, Blandford Forum, Bournemouth, Bridport, Chickerell, Christchurch, Dorchester, Ferndown, Gillingham, Lyme Regis, Poole, Portland, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton, Swanage, Verwood, Wareham, Weymouth, Wimborne Minster, Barnard Castle, Billingham, Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Darlington, Ferryhill, Greater Willington, Hartlepool, Peterlee, Seaham, Shildon, Spennymoor, Stanhope, Stanley, Tow Law, Wolsingham, Stockton-on-Tees, Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield, Goole, Hedon, Hessle, Hornsea, Howden, Market Weighton, Pocklington, Snaith and Cowick, South Cave, Withernsea, Battle, Bexhill-on-Sea, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Hastings, Heathfield, Lewes, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Polegate, Rye, Seaford, Telscombe, Uckfield, Wadhurst, Winchelsea, Basildon, Billericay, Braintree, Brentwood, Brightlingsea, Burnham-on-Crouch, Canvey Island, Coggeshall, Colchester, Corringham, Dovercourt, Epping, Frinton and Walton, Grays, Great Dunmow, Halstead, Harlow, Harwich, Leigh-on-Sea, Loughton, Maldon, Manningtree, Ongar, Rayleigh, Rochford, Saffron Walden, South Woodham Ferrers, Southend-on-Sea, Southminster, Thaxted, Waltham Abbey, West Mersea, West Tilbury, Witham, Wivenhoe, Berkeley, Bradley Stoke, Cheltenham, Chipping Campden, Chipping Sodbury, Cinderford, Cirencester, Coleford, Dursley, Fairford, Filton, Lechlade, Lydney, Minchinhampton, Mitcheldean, Moreton-in-Marsh, Nailsworth, Newent, Northleach with Eastington, Painswick, Patchway, Stonehouse, Stow-on-the-Wold, Stroud, Tetbury, Tewkesbury, Thornbury, Wickwar, Winchcombe, Wotton-under-Edge, Yate, Acton, Barking, Barnes, Barnet, Beckenham, Bexley, Brentford, Bromley, Chingford, Croydon, Dagenham, Ealing, East Ham, Edgware, Edmonton, Enfield, Erith, Finchley, Harrow, Hendon, Hornsey, Ilford, Kingston-upon-Thames, Leyton, Mitcham, Richmond, Romford, Southall, Southgate, St Mary Cray, Surbiton, Tottenham, Twickenham, Uxbridge, Walthamstow, Wembley, West Ham, Willesden, Wimbledon, Wood Green, Altrincham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Blackrod, Bolton, Bury, Dukinfield, Eccles, Heywood, Horwich, Hyde, Leigh, Middleton, Mossley, Oldham, Partington, Rochdale, Sale, Stalybridge, Stockport, Stretford, Westhoughton, Wigan, Aldershot, Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Bishop’s Waltham, Blackwater and Hawley, Eastleigh, Emsworth, Fareham, Fleet, Fordingbridge, Gosport, Havant, Hedge End, New Alresford, New Milton, Petersfield, Ringwood, Romsey, Southsea, Southwick, Tadley, Totton and Eling, Whitchurch, Whitehill, Wickham, Yateley, Bromyard and Winslow, Kington, Ledbury, Leominster, Ross-on-Wye, Berkhamsted, Bishop’s Stortford, Buntingford, Bushey, Cheshunt, Chorleywood, Elstree and Borehamwood, Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Hoddesdon, Letchworth, Royston, Sawbridgeworth, Stevenage, Tring, Waltham Cross, Ware, Watford, Welwyn Garden City, Brading, Cowes, East Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Yarmouth, Ashford, Broadstairs and St Peter’s, Chatham, Cranbrook, Dartford, Deal, Dover, Edenbridge, Faversham, Folkestone, Fordwich, Gillingham, Gravesend, Hythe, Lydd, Maidstone, Margate, Minster, New Romney, Northfleet, Paddock Wood, Queenborough-in-Sheppey, Ramsgate, Rochester, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Sandwich, Sevenoaks, Sittingbourne, Snodland, Southborough, Strood, Swanley, Swanscombe and Greenhithe, Tenterden, Tonbridge, West Malling, Westerham, Accrington, Adlington, Bacup, Barnoldswick, Blackburn, Blackpool, Brierfield, Burnley, Carnforth, Chorley, Clitheroe, Colne, Darwen, Fleetwood, Garstang, Haslingden, Kirkham, Longridge, Lytham St Annes, Medlar with Wesham, Morecambe, Nelson, Ormskirk, Padiham, Penwortham, Preesall, Rawtenstall, Skelmersdale, Whitworth, Ashby Woulds, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Braunstone Town, Earl Shilton, Hinckley, Loughborough, Lutterworth, Market Bosworth, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Shepshed, Syston, Alford, Barton-upon-Humber, Boston, Bottesford, Bourne, Brigg, Broughton, Burgh-le-Marsh, Caistor, Cleethorpes, Crowland, Crowle, Epworth, Gainsborough, Grantham, Grimsby, Holbeach, Horncastle, Immingham, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Long Sutton, Louth, Mablethorpe and Sutton, Market Deeping, Market Rasen, North Hykeham, Scunthorpe, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding, Spilsby, Stamford, Wainfleet All Saints, Winterton, Wragby, Bebington, Birkenhead, Bootle, Bromborough, Crosby, Maghull, Newton-le-Willows, Prescot, Southport, St Helens, Wallasey, Bedale, Bentham, Boroughbridge, Colburn, Easingwold, Filey, Guisborough, Harrogate, Haxby, Helmsley, Ingleby Barwick, Kirkbymoorside, Knaresborough, Leyburn, Loftus, Malton, Masham, Middleham, Middlesbrough, Northallerton, Norton-on-Derwent, Pateley Bridge, Pickering, Redcar, Richmond, Ripon, Scarborough, Selby, Settle, Skelton-in-Cleveland, Skipton, Tadcaster, Thirsk, Thornaby-on-Tees, Whitby, Yarm, Brackley, Burton Latimer, Corby, Daventry, Desborough, Higham Ferrers, Irthlingborough, Kettering, Northampton, Oundle, Raunds, Rothwell, Rushden, Thrapston, Towcester, Wellingborough, Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Blyth, Corbridge, Cramlington, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Morpeth, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Ponteland, Prudhoe, Rothbury, West Bedlington, Wooler, Bingham, Bulwell, Cotgrave, East Retford, Eastwood, Harworth and Bircotes, Kimberley, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Mansfield, Newark-on-Trent, Ollerton and Boughton, Southwell, Stapleford, Worksop, Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Burford, Carterton, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Didcot, Faringdon, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Wallingford, Wantage, Watlington, Witney, Woodstock, Oakham, Uppingham, Bishop’s Castle, Bridgnorth, Broseley, Church Stretton, Cleobury Mortimer, Clun, Craven Arms, Ellesmere, Ludlow, Madeley, Market Drayton, Much Wenlock, Newport, Oakengates, Oswestry, Shifnal, Shrewsbury, Telford, Wellington, Wem, Whitchurch, Axbridge, Bridgwater, Bruton, Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, Castle Cary, Chard, Clevedon, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Frome, Glastonbury, Ilminster, Keynsham, Langport, Midsomer Norton, Minehead, Nailsea, North Petherton, Portishead and North Weston, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Somerton, South Petherton, Taunton, Watchet, Wellington, Weston-super-Mare, Wincanton, Wiveliscombe, Yeovil, Askern, Barnsley, Bawtry, Brierley, Conisbrough, Dinnington St John’s, Doncaster, Maltby, Penistone, Rotherham, Stainforth, Stocksbridge, Thorne, Tickhill, Wath-upon-Dearne, Biddulph, Burntwood, Burton upon Trent, Cannock, Cheadle, Eccleshall, Fazeley, Hednesford, Kidsgrove, Leek, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Penkridge, Rugeley, Stafford, Stone, Tamworth, Uttoxeter, Chertsey, Dorking, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford, Haslemere, Horley, Leatherhead, Reigate, Staines-upon-Thames, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge, Woking, Gateshead, Hetton, Jarrow, South Shields, Tynemouth, Wallsend, Washington, Alcester, Atherstone, Bedworth, Coleshill, Henley-in-Arden, Kenilworth, Nuneaton, Royal Leamington Spa, Rugby, Shipston-on-Stour, Southam, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Whitnash, Bilston, Dudley, Fordbridge, Halesowen, Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Solihull, Stourbridge, Sutton Coldfield, Tipton, Walsall, West Bromwich, Willenhall, Arundel, Bognor Regis, Burgess Hill, Crawley, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath, Littlehampton, Midhurst, Petworth, Selsey, Shoreham-by-Sea, Steyning, Worthing, Batley, Bingley, Brighouse, Castleford, Dewsbury, Elland, Featherstone, Halifax, Hebden Royd, Hemsworth, Horsforth, Huddersfield, Ilkley, Keighley, Meltham, Mirfield, Morley, Normanton, Ossett, Otley, Pontefract, Pudsey, Rothwell, Silsden, South Elmsall, South Kirkby and Moorthorpe, Todmorden, Wetherby, Amesbury, Bradford-on-Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Cricklade, Devizes, Highworth, Ludgershall, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Mere, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Tidworth, Tisbury, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Wilton, Bewdley, Bromsgrove, Droitwich Spa, Evesham, Kidderminster, Malvern, Pershore, Redditch, Stourport-on-Severn, Tenbury Wells, Upton-upon-Severn
southwest, southeast, northeast, northwest, eastern, western, northern and southern

Contact Us
"Ben did an excellent job yesterday, delivering his work with professionalism and even taking the time to give an insightful tuition talk to our team on-site, which they found highly engaging. We look forward to working with you on future projects!”
Allens Total Perimeter Security Group Ltd
"Everything was perfect and delivered on time – excellent work. We've been working with Howlands for our ground investigations for a long time, and they excel in communication, providing RAMS well ahead of start dates, and being highly accommodating to our needs. All information is issued in advance, ensuring a smooth and seamless process on-site. No concerns at all – everything was spot on.”
Anglian Water
"We were fully satisfied with the work carried out and the overall experience of working with A F Howland throughout the project. We would absolutely use their services again and recommend them to others without hesitation. Their team was very attentive, acknowledging that their activities might cause some mess, but they went above and beyond to minimise the impact.”
NCS Group
“This project involved ground investigation (GI) within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) located on a low-lying coastal floodplain. A F Howland associates demonstrated exceptional capability and efficiency across all aspects of the project, including contract management, fieldwork, and collaboration with landowners and ecologists.”
Perfect Circle
"Thank you for the last four weeks – it has been a pleasure working alongside you. Your professionalism and the way you handled the initial teething issues were outstanding, making you a true credit to your company. We also appreciate your dedication, coming in early at 7am and staying late to ensure everything was completed on time. I hope to have the opportunity to work with you again in the near future.”
Anon
"The site was left in excellent condition – neat, tidy, and fully reinstated – you wouldn’t even know any surveys or works had taken place. Despite our tight timeframe, all expectations were met as quoted and advised. We would definitely use their services again and highly recommend them to others. A F Howland is a very professional and honest company with outstanding staff. Toby Skinner and his team were exceptional, true professionals and a credit to your company.”
SRS Aromatics Ltd
“This project involved over-water drilling, operations within a live pumping station, activities covered under a Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP), and work on a live highway. A F Howland Associates managed the fieldwork and stakeholder engagement – including coordination with the client, highway authority, and ecologists – with great competence and efficiency.”
Perfect Circle

FAQs

We provide a comprehensive range of contracting and consultancy services to support projects from start to finish, utilising innovative methodologies alongside our practical approach to give you the maximum benefit of reliable results accompanied by detailed expert insights.

These services are divided into 4 primary categories: site investigations, geotechnical, geoenvironmental and environmental monitoring. Thanks to our expertise and experience, we can combine our services based on the needs of each project.

As specialists in geotechnical engineering, we provide management contracting for civil engineering investigations for both the public and private sectors. Our expertise enables us to tackle the challenges associated with the construction of roads, tunnels and foundations, and our understanding of rock conditions means we are equipped for earthworks and slope stability. With decades of experience, we understand that each project has its unique challenges and requirements, and so we are comfortable working on both one-off and long-term projects.

Our consultancy services are also available for all geotechnical, geoenvironmental and hydrogeological engineering projects.

Yes, our extensive range of services and expertise allows us to provide both geotechnical and geo-environmental investigations.

Our geotechnical investigations provide clients across the public and private sectors with support through site investigations, design solutions and specialist advice throughout the entire course of their construction project.

In contrast, our geo-environmental services are designed to assist clients with planning and regulatory requirements through site-specific risk assessments, phased investigations and remediation works.

We provide extensive environmental monitoring services, including land contamination assessment, waste classification and groundwater and gas monitoring. Our services can be tailored to help identify and manage environmental risks, allowing us to develop an effective remediation strategy that ensures your project meets regulations whilst minimising its environmental impact.

We have offices across the UK, located in the Midlands, Norfolk, Suffolk and London. This enables us to provide quick response times across the length and width of the country, ensuring that our team are ideally positioned to provide you with dedicated support. Additionally, you can trust that you are working with someone with knowledge of your local area.

You can contact us directly by calling 01603 250754, and a member of our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

For general enquiries, please fill out an online contact form or email us: admin@howland.co.uk

A site investigation is typically required as part of planning processes, so it is best to involve us as early as possible to maximise the effectiveness of our investigations by identifying and minimising potential risks before they can pose a greater threat to the budget and delivery of a project.

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Call us to speak directly with a member of our team. Our office hours are:
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

For general enquiries please complete the contact form.

You can also follow us on social media. See links on our website.
  • Over 40 years of experience
  • Reliable expertise
  • Tailored services
  • Fast, accurate results

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