Specialist drilling contractors have warned the site/ground investigation sector is in danger of overheating.

The British Drilling Association (BDA) warned that the sector may not be large enough or have the capacity to accommodate projected demand through 2017.

Anne Baxter, Chair of the BDA said with delayed large-scale projects such as HS2, the expansion of Heathrow Airport, and projects across the nuclear sector as well as general workload now getting the green-light, the potential is there for "demand overload".

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"Present site/ground investigation capacity, whist considerable, is not large enough to cope with the demand of so many projects all expected to commence in parallel to each other," she said.

"Lack of capacity could lead to project delays, price inflations and well as impacting on the wider economy, which has hung some much growth on the forecasted progression of these projects."

The organisation has now called for the industry to introduce greater planning and scheduling, as well as an element of patience so demand can meet supply.

(LM/MH)