Located five miles south of Edinburgh city centre, Shawfair Business Park is one of Midlothian’s leading commercial developments, attracting major occupiers such as the Scottish Qualifications Authority, Spire Private Hospital, David Lloyd Leisure, and Danfoss. Designed with sustainability and connectivity in mind, the site benefits from direct access to the Edinburgh City Bypass, an on-site Park & Ride, and a dedicated rail station offering fast links to Edinburgh Waverley in under fifteen minutes. A flagship development within the park is the Danfoss Low Carbon Innovation Centre, set to become the company’s first carbon-neutral building worldwide.

Despite its strategic advantages, the site presented significant geotechnical risks. A detailed site investigation identified abandoned mine workings beneath the development area, with borehole records noting “coal and air loss” between depths of 12.80m and 14.90m below ground level. These voids were linked to the Diamond Coal and Musselburgh Jewel Coal seams, both of which lie within 30 metres of the surface. Such conditions posed a serious risk of ground instability, including potential subsidence and collapse, which could impact buildings, car parks, and heavy-duty loading areas. As a result, a comprehensive ground stabilisation solution was required to ensure long-term safety and structural integrity across the entire site.