Substructure Masonry For Lenmark Groundworks, Cala Homes

Location: Kent

When groundwork begins on a new housing development, substructure masonry plays a central role. It’s one of the first visible steps in a build, laying down the physical structure that will hold everything else in place. 

At Sackville Construction Ltd, we’ve been delivering substructure masonry on behalf of Lenmark Groundworks, who are carrying out groundwork contracts for Cala Homes. The site involves the construction of 350 residential units across multiple plots.

This article covers what substructure masonry involves, why it matters at this stage of development, and how our work contributes to broader delivery timelines and responsibilities across large-scale residential projects.

What Is Substructure Masonry?

Substructure masonry refers to the construction of brickwork and blockwork below the damp proof course (DPC) level. This usually includes sleeper walls, honeycomb walls and blockwork that supports suspended floors. It's part of the early build stage, the structural base laid on foundations after excavation but before above-ground works begin.

This work creates the permanent infrastructure that resists soil pressure, distributes load and supports all follow-on trades. If it's not installed correctly, it can cause delays and long-term structural problems. 

That’s why it's important that the Bricklayers, labourers, and site managers in the who carry out this work understand site sequencing, tolerances and coordination with groundwork contractors.

How Sackville Construction Ltd Has Supported Lenmark

Lenmark is an established groundwork contractor delivering excavation, foundations, drainage and external works for large residential developments. On this project, Lenmark was awarded the groundwork package by Cala Homes. Sackville Construction Ltd was “brought in” by Lenmark to install all substructure masonry across multiple sites.

We've been supplying both labour and plant (such as 5/3 mixers) which have made it easier for Lenmark to manage logistics and maintain progress. 

By managing our own delivery schedules and staying aligned with their excavation and foundation sequencing, we’ve helped Lenmark meet key deadlines, meaning Cala Homes can keep their programme on track.

Our Bricklayers in the South East have been working on:

• Substructure blockwork to DPC
• Sleeper walls for suspended floor support
• Honeycomb walls for underfloor ventilation
• Internal partition blockwork (where required)
• Site-wide coordination

By bringing in our own site leads and coordinating directly with Lenmark’s site management, we’ve made sure each area is built to spec and ready for follow-on works. It’s not just about brickwork, it’s about sequencing, communication and getting things done properly the first time.

Avoiding Delays 

Substructure masonry often overlaps with drainage; foundation pours and service trenching. If coordination is poor, the knock-on effect can be weeks of lost time. For example, if a DPC level isn’t hit correctly, the floor slab can’t go in. That means follow-on trades can’t start.

Here’s how our Bricklayers make sure that doesn’t happen:

• Working to engineering drawings and site levels with accuracy
• Direct communication with groundwork supervisors
• Planning for material lead times, especially during high-demand periods
• Providing our own plant and equipment, reducing delays from waiting on shared site resources

That way, even on larger phased developments like this one, substructure packages are delivered on time, in the right order, and to spec.

What This Work Means For Cala Homes

For Cala Homes, the end-goal is clear: deliver 350 units safely, on budget and on programme. Lenmark plays a key part in that. And by supporting Lenmark’s groundwork responsibilities with dedicated masonry services, we help guarantee smoother delivery from day one.

When we manage our part of the build properly, from initial set-out through to final blockwork inspection, we remove one of the most common early-stage bottlenecks on residential sites. That makes things easier for groundwork, superstructure and internal fit-out trades down the line.

It’s a small part of a bigger build, but it carries weight.

Why Site-Specific Brickwork Packages Work Better

Some projects still treat brickwork as an afterthought, handled by whoever’s free at the time. That usually leads to higher costs and more site clashes. Instead, having a structured brickwork package that includes labour, plant (concrete mixers) and supervision avoids confusion.

Here’s why this works on live sites:

• All tradespeople on site know what they’re doing and who to report to
• Site management has one point of contact for masonry works
• Deadlines are met without last-minute changes or added cost

At Sackville Construction Ltd, we’ve applied this model across different residential sites, and it continues to prove more efficient for groundwork contractors like Lenmark.

The Value Of Early Involvement

Being involved at the start means fewer surprises later. We can help identify risks in buildability, site access and sequencing before blockwork begins. Working closely with Lenmark from an early stage has meant fewer delays, clearer roles, and faster handovers to follow-on trades.

Substructure masonry might not be the most visible part of a home - but it’s one of the most important parts of getting the job off the ground, literally and figuratively. We’re proud to help make that happen.

Back To List