Nursing the slopes for a new Care Home

A 14m drop in level over the depth of this new development site at Rockdale, Sevenoaks meant that the design and installation of appropriate construction led earth retention systems to support the new access road and protect the new building footprint was the key to the overall build plan.

Geoforte Ground Engineering have been employed by contractor Mansell to initially consult then enter into a full design, supply and install contract package for an extensive anchored reinforced concrete contiguous piled retaining wall and capping beam for overall slope stability with reinforced earth slopes, walls and gabions to follow on.

Geoforte on the right track at Reading Station

 We have commenced the construction of over 2000 sq.m of reinforced earth walls and slopes for Principal Civil Engineering Contractor Bam Nuttall at Reading Station development site. The retaining structures are to support new permanent way with trackside access on an extensive and prestigious scheme. A challenging build programme has necessitated the deployment of up to 4 gangs and associated plant working full time to meet early completion targets.

Gabions Prescription for Glaxo Smith Kline

Geoforte are designing and installing over 800 sq.m gabion facing and free standing walls in a number of locations to the exposed elevations of new buildings for Glaxo at Stevenage, Herts.  Works had to be completed to a very tight time schedule with phased completion in tamdem with all external groundworks and landscaping for contractor Carey.

Build one and get one - three at Tesco Cefn Mawr

We started building one and are now doing three at a time on this site under a full package of design, supply and construction using reinforced earth modular blocks walls, slopes and concrete crib gravity retaining structures with reinforced concrete contiguous piled walls up to a maximum retained height of 9m. Our direct labour gangs are fully employed building all walls and associated foundations on a tight build programme amidst challenging access conditions. Careful consideration has had to be given to the sequencing of work and the dovetailing of each bank area with adjacent earth retaining features when more than one wall is being built at the same time.

Design and installation of piling platforms, ground improvement methods and AIP Highway approval for each earth retention system was also our responsibility.

Geoforte saved the client considerable time and expense on foundations by carrying out supplementary SI in the form of vane penetration testing and selective trial pitting at wall formation level within the lower sections of the site prior to commencement of our walls and slopes. This geotechnical input determined the made ground profile and the design and extent of ground improvement necessary to cater for the high bearing pressures brought about from the new high level retaining walls.

Tales From a Riverbank

Geoforte provided a stream embankment remediation solution for major housing developer Persimmon Homes at Alder Stream, Five Oak Green Tonbridge. This project proved challenging on many levels with special consideration being given to environmental issues on site and downstream, limited accessibility and  working space between the stream bank and the existing property development.

This ecologically sensitive project involved careful planning as a balance had to be struck with providing an earth retention  solution which was suitably robust to prevent further erosion and failure of the existing bank whilst giving due consideration  to all environmental issues.  A full topographic survey of the stream area was carried out with supplementary SI in the form of window sampling to determine existing  the soil properties. This allowed for a design solution specifically tailored to the segment of the stream being remediated.

Detailed design led to a hybrid solution which utilized ground anchors with a gabion mattress stone filled face. This allowed for minimal excavation and disturbance to the natural habitat while providing a structural solution within the existing site constraints.

The construction was undertaken using temporary scaffolding within the stream with excavation and muck away done manually. Care was taken to minimize the potential spill of excavated soil into the stream with silt traps placed downstream as a precautionary measure.

No mechanized equipment was used along the stream bank due to limited accessibility and the possibility of damaging the already fragile banks on the opposite side of our works.

Top soil was used to re-grade the slope above the gabions in order to encourage the re-growth of indigenous vegetation over the top edge of the mattress .This will allow for the blending in of the gabion face with the natural vegetation.

The work was completed without any damage to the environment and the original stream width was maintained and widened slightly in some areas to maintain uniformity which  was verified by an as built survey upon completing of the works.

Geoforte Motor On

Major Civil Engineering Contractor Skanska has employed Geoforte on a tricky and tight access project to build bridge abutments, wing walls and associated drainage for the new Catthorpe Viaduct over the M1 at its junction with the M6 using a reinforced earth modular block dry build system.

Working under a strict Health and Safety and Quality Assurance regime within a phased programme of construction immediately adjacent to a motorway contraflow, our direct works team’s activities also had to dovetail into the reinforced concrete wall build which was being carried out in sections in parallel by Skanska.

Close coordination with the Principle Contractor including regular briefings, early and ongoing workforce involvement and effective communication on site through progress meetings are paying dividends in build time and the implementation of safe working methods.

Checkout this new build for Tesco

An 8m high cut face and the need to minimise excavation and import of granular fill were the main considerations for us on this scheme. The solution was further complicated as the boundary to the site was very close to the crest of the new wall ruling out ground anchors or soil nails and making it quite a challenge for our design (and construction) team. A hybrid approach was adopted using part gravity and part tie back structure with a timber crib facing linked to no fines concrete backfill in the lower cut sections of the wall and reinforced earth elements in the fill upper zone.

Work is progressing steadily on site now with close coordination of excavation, wall face build, infilling and backfilling in order that the bank integrity is maintained throughout, particularly through periods of inclement weather.

Grow bags are being inserted into the wall in order that the face can be planted out on completion.

Four Winds, Weybridge

Our Latest B(log)

Timber log walling and timber crib gravity retaining structures were the order of the day for Geoforte in the creation of extensive new rear gardens and landscaped areas for a new housing development at prestigious location St Georges Hill, Weybridge. The log walls were constructed as terraces in curved lines around future amenity areas and  fountain features with the lower terrace timber crib wall containing grow bags for future planting out of the wall face with a variety of flowers and shrubs.

The works had to be carefully carried out in pre-determined stages from the base level up and incorporated specifically designed land drainage behind each wall position in order to maintain overall stability of the hillside. We hope to post some more images of this site when all the landscaping and planting has been completed and the flowers are in bloom to show the completed job off to best effect!

Iwade, Kent

Geoforte Creates a Storm

A lengthy diversion of a large diameter storm water drainage system was carried out in parallel with the construction of gabion walling and mattressing, to form a new ditch alignment and associated earth retention works for a new housing development site in Iwade, Kent. The site was environmentally and ecologically sensitive and had to conform to EA standards. Special grow bags were built into the wall faces and geoicoir rolls placed at stream bed level to encourage the formation of indigenous species of plants.

Geoforte provided a complete design, supply and installation package of works for local contractor Swale Building Services to enable the completion of all interfacing ground, external and landscaping works on site.

Control of groundwater, careful sequencing and construction of the gabions in predetermined sections under testing ground conditions were all major factors in the successful completion of this job.

Bere Regis, Wareham

Early Workforce Engagement Pays Dividends 

Replacing a collapsed masonry retaining wall over two storeys high behind a terrace of existing cottages with only footpath access proved a challenge to our team. Access was limited to small plant and hand held equipment and the work had to be carried out carefully and in sections to minimise disturbance to the existing failed bank.

Our directly employed workforce were actively involved in the early planning of the project with our management prior to commencement on site in order that the most feasible, efficient and safe working methods were adopted for an in house design that included soil nailing and the construction of a timber crib structural facing.

Once a point of access had been formed by the temporary removal of neighbouring boundary walls and fences, bulk excavation and removal of spoil was closely followed by the use of two phase scaffold access platforms and high level access with barrow hoists.

The contract was completed on time, within budget and with the minimal amount of disturbance to the residents.