April 25, 2025
Delivering adoptable drainage infrastructure is a critical part of any new housing development — and it’s often under pressure from tight timescales and ever-changing site conditions. That’s why John Reilly Civil Engineering have adopted Vertform, AHS’s reusable manhole forming system, across a number of residential sites to improve speed, consistency and quality in manhole construction.
Vertform has been used by the Reilly team on major schemes including Woodland Manor, a 400-home development by Castle Green Homes in Congleton, and Neptune, a new-build community by Bellway Homes in Croft. On both sites, Reilly were responsible for delivering the installation of adoptable foul and surface water drainage. This included a number of manhole inverts, each requiring an efficient and reliable construction method that could adapt to varying configurations.
Delivering speed and consistency on site
The system’s modular fibreglass components make it easy to build accurate invert profiles quickly, eliminating the need for timber shuttering and skilled formwork teams. It’s a method that ensures smooth, watertight channels in line with adoptable standards, while reducing time spent on each manhole base.
Unlike traditional timber formwork, which can be slow to build and prone to variation, Vertform’s pre-formed fibreglass moulds allow operatives to assemble the required profile quickly and accurately. Once in place, the concrete pour creates a smooth, watertight finish in a single step — often in as little as 45 minutes per chamber.
Just as importantly, Vertform ensures consistency across the site, which is especially important when dealing with adoptable drainage infrastructure. The system produces uniform benching and flow channels regardless of who’s installing it, reducing the risk of defects or non-compliance during inspection.
The flexibility of the system was also a major benefit on these residential sites. With a variety of pipe sizes in use and multiple access features — including step irons, lateral connections, and bends — Vertform could be adapted easily to suit each chamber layout, helping the team stay responsive to changing conditions and design updates without needing new formwork for every variation.
Need a better way to deliver manhole inverts on your next developer services project?
Whether you're installing drainage for a small housing estate or a large-scale residential development, Vertform offers a faster, safer, and more consistent way to construct manhole inverts. Its reusable fibreglass moulds eliminate the need for timber shuttering and skilled formwork, reducing time on site and ensuring a high-quality, watertight finish every time.
Trusted by contractors like John Reilly CE, Vertform helps to streamline the drainage installation process, ensuring you stay on track and meet project deadlines. By reducing rework and ensuring consistency, Vertform supports you in delivering a reliable drainage system that meets adoptable standards.
👉 Learn more at ahs-pi.co.uk/vertform