A residential development site located on the steep western outskirts of Oban, a coastal town on the west coast of Scotland, presented significant geotechnical challenges. The project required the construction of house foundations through excavation into underlying country rock. Site investigations revealed that the rock mass was highly fractured and overlain by unstable Glacial Till, increasing the risk of ground movement and slope instability.

Given the site’s sensitive surroundings, slope failure was not an acceptable risk. Existing residential properties were situated downslope, while a nursery school with associated gardens and outbuildings was located above the excavation area. This created a high-risk environment where ground instability could have led to serious safety, structural, and liability issues. A reliable and engineered slope stabilisation solution was therefore critical to ensure safe construction and long-term performance.