Client
Ballymore Group
Case Study - Upcycling Urban Infrastructure at Bishopsgate Goodsyard
OVERVIEW
Ballymore, a specialist in unlocking complex development opportunities across London’s built environment, approached Plowman Craven to support a critical phase of their Bishopsgate Goodsyard regeneration scheme. Set in the heart of Shoreditch, this vast and iconic site includes a mix of elevated and subterranean Victorian infrastructure. As part of a wider push to upcycle existing assets rather than demolish and rebuild, Ballymore required a detailed understanding of existing spatial stock to inform reuse, redesign, and reinforcement strategies.
The aim was to retain and enhance heritage structures wherever viable – a move aligned with growing pressure in London to reduce embodied carbon, limit disruption, and bring under-utilised space back into productive use.
CLIENT CHALLENGE
Ballymore’s vision to breathe new life into the Bishopsgate Goodsyard relied on accurate dimensional and visual data from several disused and partially buried structures which had delayed the project which had already spanned a number of years. These areas presented unique access and safety challenges meaning conventional survey was just too dangerous:
- Confined, poorly ventilated environments with limited visibility
- Environment with material hazardous to health such as pigeon feces, brick and stone dust as well as numerous potential others
- Structural uncertainty, including concerns over potential collapse of legacy steelwork
- Constraints preventing traditional human access or prolonged occupation
- A need for precise dimensional data to inform structural modelling and heritage-sensitive design
A conventional survey approach would have required multiple personnel, temporary access works, and extended on-site presence – all of which posed unacceptable safety risks and inflated project costs.
OUR SOLUTION
To deliver both safety and survey-grade accuracy, Plowman Craven deployed a combined methodology:
- A full Area Measurement Survey and Scan-to-BIM was undertaken across the accessible estate to provide a baseline for redevelopment planning
- For the underground and high-risk voids, we piloted Flyability’s Elios 3, a cutting-edge confined space drone equipped with a 4K camera and LiDAR scanning payload
Our team leveraged established internal protocols to:
- Conduct safe, contactless visual assessments of at-risk steelwork
- Capture dimensional data from inaccessible spaces
- Generate point clouds and 3D geometry to integrate into the wider BIM model
The result: minimal site time, maximum insight, and zero risk to personnel.
PROJECT BENEFITS
Safe access to high-risk areas: By deploying the Elios 3, we eliminated the need for human entry into hazardous and unstable environments. This dramatically reduced exposure to hazards and eliminated the need for scaffolding, gas detection, or rescue plans.
Survey-grade data in confined environments: Our team didn’t just inspect – we captured accurate, geo-referenced LiDAR data, enabling Ballymore’s architects and engineers to incorporate underground voids into structural modelling with confidence.
Upcycling over demolition: This project exemplified how high-resolution data can support upcycling: retaining historic fabric, reducing embodied carbon, and preserving character – all while enabling modern functionality.
Faster delivery, lower cost: Single-team deployment and minimal access preparation significantly reduced site time and cost. What would typically require a multi-person confined space team was completed in a fraction of the time with no compromise on safety or accuracy.
Strategic insight for regeneration: With integrated 3D data from above and below ground, Ballymore gained the complete picture required to plan their rejuvenation works – supporting confident decision-making without guesswork.
Plowman Craven’s approach allowed us to rethink what was possible at Bishopsgate Goodsyard. Their ability to safely capture data from complex and previously inaccessible areas was instrumental in supporting our upcycling strategy. It’s enabled us to move forward with a clearer understanding of what we can retain and enhance.
Gareth Yeates – Project Director – Ballymore Group
PROJECT OUTCOME
The Bishopsgate Goodsyard project is a prime example of how digitally enabled inspection and survey can empower sustainable urban regeneration.
Through a smart combination of traditional survey methods and next-generation confined space technology, Plowman Craven helped Ballymore assess and unlock hidden potential in one of London’s most ambitious upcycling schemes.
By turning previously inaccessible voids into understood, usable, and design-integrated spaces, we didn’t just map structures – we enabled smarter reuse of the urban fabric.
It was an exciting project that brought together multiple Plowman Craven capabilities. Supporting Ballymore with both the traditional and the untraditional, especially in a regeneration site as iconic as this, highlights the evolving role of geospatial data in sustainable development.
James Arnott – Managing Director, Inspection Division, Plowman Craven
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Plowman Craven has more than 50 years’ experience, we provide integrated measurement and consultancy services.
