2025
Belfast
Lidl Northern Ireland GbmH
McCallion Constrution
Maccaferri
Reinforced Soil Slope for Lidl Stewartstown Road Redevelopment
Challenge
As part of Lidl Northern Ireland’s “Knock & Rebuild” redevelopment at Stewartstown Road in Belfast, a 10-metre-high reinforced soil slope was required to support the rear and side of a new car park. This geotechnical structure was a critical component of the store’s upgrade, which prioritised sustainable construction and environmental performance. Key sustainability features of the development included LED lighting, energy-efficient heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, and a pollinator garden to promote biodiversity.
The reinforced slope design presented several engineering challenges. The significant height of the slope, combined with complex site geometry, required a robust and adaptable retaining solution. In addition, ongoing design changes during the project lifecycle demanded flexibility in both design and construction. A 120-year design life requirement further increased the need for a durable, high-performance geotechnical system.
Structural Design Solutions (SDS) Ltd, acting as the client’s design engineer, defined strict performance and durability criteria. Maccaferri was appointed by McCallion Construction to deliver a fully engineered reinforced soil slope solution that could meet these structural, environmental, and sustainability objectives.
Solution
To address the project’s technical and spatial constraints, Maccaferri designed a hybrid reinforced soil system combining a vegetated Green Terramesh® slope with high-performance Paragrid® geogrid reinforcement, alongside gabion retaining wall sections in areas with limited space. This integrated geotechnical solution allowed the slope to follow the complex site layout while ensuring long-term structural stability.
The Green Terramesh® system provided a reinforced soil slope with a natural vegetated face, enhancing both aesthetics and environmental performance. In tighter areas, gabion-faced sections delivered a practical and structurally efficient retaining solution. The use of Paragrid® geogrids ensured the reinforced soil structure met the required strength, durability, and 120-year design life.
Compared to traditional concrete retaining walls, the reinforced soil slope offered significant sustainability benefits. The solution reduced concrete usage, lowering embodied carbon, and enabled the use of site-won materials, minimising waste and transportation impacts. The vegetated slope face supports carbon sequestration and improves local biodiversity, aligning with Lidl’s sustainability goals.
The completed reinforced soil slope in Belfast successfully delivers a stable and durable platform for the new car park while contributing to a low-carbon, nature-positive development. This project demonstrates how innovative reinforced soil and geotechnical engineering solutions can enhance infrastructure performance while supporting sustainable construction and environmental resilience.
Used Products
