From being knee deep in mud on construction sites to overseeing the delivery of a major highways programme for Wokingham Borough Council, Sam Goss has worked on nearly every stage of the development process during his career.

The Chartered Civil Engineer joined PJA just over two years ago as Associate Director in our Reading office and leads on the design of our highways-based civil engineering and public realm schemes which largely involve retrofitting and amending existing built environment.

He says that in PJA he has found a company that matches his holistic approach to design, attention to detail and pushing the boundaries of accepted practice.

“Myself and our engineering team are quite uniquely placed in that we have had exposure to delivering schemes from conception to completion. Having worked in consultancy and local authority positions, we understand the drivers and challenges of local authorities and developers, such as financial pressures, resourcing, and maintenance issues, and we’re also well aware of the common problems that can arise during the construction process”.

“Because we’ve been in our clients’ shoes, we can help steer their projects in the right direction, minimise risks and ensure schemes are not only delivered on time and to budget, but delivered to the highest standard. We continually look to innovate to improve places for all users and, most importantly, design schemes that will last.”

So what is Sam’s top advice to local authorities and developers looking to design and deliver a successful new scheme?

“Obtain the necessary engineering data as early in the design process as possible to highlight potential issues and reduce the risk later. Topographical, utility, drainage and ground investigations provide an accurate picture of the existing situation so that you can shape the design around key constraints and develop it with confidence. You can then be confident that the initial concept and masterplan designs being used for public consultation will be realistic and won’t need to be pared back or significantly amended later in the design process, which can undermine stakeholder buy-in and public confidence.”

“I know first-hand that without this critical information, designs are likely to change significantly when the information becomes available, and in some cases, schemes even end up being shelved.”

And what is Sam working on right now?

One of Sam’s current projects is designing improvements to key areas of public realm in Wincanton town centre. The aim is to enhance the attractiveness and safety of the town centre to encourage more people to visit, helping boost footfall and dwell time.

Sam and his team’s package of improvements include the re-design of the historic market place incorporating planting schemes, widening footways and improved crossing facilities.

“We were commissioned alongside an architect to work on the designs through RIBA stages 2 to 6 of concept design, spatial coordination, technical design, manufacturing and construction and handover. We have prepared detailed technical designs for the scheme, around a number of complex below ground constraints including utilities and building basements. We have also had a key role in supporting the client with advice about contracts, procurement and construction stage planning and phasing of works which has been really valued.”

What’s next for Sam, and where can he see it going over the next twelve months?

“I’m excited to see what I can achieve over the next year alongside the team, and how we can push those boundaries further to develop stand out design schemes and successful developments for the clients we work with.”

For advice on your scheme, get in touch with Sam at [email protected]

Sam Goss, Associate Director

Sam is an Associate Director based in our Reading office and a Chartered Civil Engineer with 20 years’ experience in both the private and public sector with a focus on highway and public realm design.

He has worked on a wide range of projects from Section 278 schemes to large strategic highway infrastructure and public transport schemes, undertaking the design, delivery and management of all project stages including extensive construction stage experience. Sam is passionate about good quality design, with an eye for detail and believes that building good relationships provide the foundation for project success.

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