New state-of-the-art modular offices were craned into place at a highways depot as part of Ryebridge’s two-year work on modernising the site.
Having successfully completed the construction of a new winter gritting salt barn and washdown facility at Deddington Highways and Maintenance Depot – a design and build appointment on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, Ryebridge was contracted to carry out the second phase of the project.
Planning approval was finally secured after a lengthy process and all conditions were successfully managed and discharged. Ryebridge then won the tender for the construction works in August 2025.
This involved the construction of new offices on the site, including a reception, meeting rooms, staff facilities, kitchen and conference room with capacity for approximately 20 people.
The existing modular offices were considered old and inefficient, and had various issues including inadequate toilet systems where water pipes froze during cold weather, a lack of disabled access and inadequate accommodation for meetings.
These were taken down and removed, and Ryebridge laid reinforced concrete slab with a full sub-structure including foul water and storm water drainage. A new manhole was fitted which tied in to the existing foul water system on site, and the slab was raised to accommodate the gradient and make the system adequate.
Any surplus spoil and concrete was removed from the site.
The new offices are eight double-storey modular units consisting of open plan and private offices, built in Aberdeen by Texo Ltd and then lowered into place on the site using cranes. They are more thermally and energy efficient and more adaptable to severe weather.
A new electric feed was installed tieing them into the salt barn, which Ryebridge previously fitted with solar panels, ensuring the offices are able to use a large portion of renewable energy.
The work also involved asphalt surfacing the outside area and creating defined pedestrian footways, disabled parking spaces and zebra crossings.
The works started on October 13 and practical completion was on February 23. The new units were installed in just five days, including being made watertight.
Ryebridge managing director Sean Scully said: “This was a natural follow-up to our successful work in constructing the salt barn in 2024, and means the depot now boasts state-of-the-art facilities across the site.
“Our collaborative partnership with the highways operations ensured the work was completed in a safe and timely manner on a live depot while leaving transport movements unaffected.
“We are delighted to report that the county council is very pleased with the finished building, and consequently we have been advised that we will be invited to tender for similar projects in the future.”
