2007
Swansea, Wales
Private
Celtic Home & Builders Ltd
Maccaferri Ltd
Retaining Wall Solution for Sloping Housing Development in West Wales
During construction and initial stage of constructing the MacWall
During Construction
Post construction of MacWall
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Challenge
A client sought to develop a challenging sloping site in West Wales to deliver a series of exclusive residential properties. Due to the steep terrain, multiple housing layout options were assessed before selecting a terraced design to maximise land use and ensure long-term stability. This approach required the construction of three parallel retaining walls, each extending לאורך the development and reaching heights of up to 3.5 metres.
The retaining walls needed to serve both structural and aesthetic purposes, as they would form highly visible boundaries for the new homes. To enhance the visual appeal of the development, the design incorporated gentle curves, creating a more attractive and distinctive environment for homeowners.
Sustainability was a key priority for the project. The client aimed to minimise environmental impact by reducing the import and export of materials and maximising the reuse of site-won soils. Achieving a “materials balance” across the site was a central objective, requiring a retaining wall solution capable of utilising locally available fill materials while maintaining performance and durability.
Solution
Maccaferri was appointed by George Brown Consultancy to design a cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing retaining wall system that met both engineering and environmental requirements. The solution needed to deliver structural reliability, flexibility in design, and a high-quality finish suitable for a premium housing development.
The MacWall Diamond segmental retaining wall system was selected as the optimal solution. This engineered system uses precast concrete blocks with a split-face finish, providing a natural stone appearance. The Basalt colour was chosen to blend seamlessly with the local West Wales landscape, enhancing the overall visual integration of the development.
MacWall Diamond is a reinforced soil retaining wall system that combines concrete block facings with polymeric geogrid reinforcement. The geogrids are installed between successive layers of blocks and extend back into the retained soil, where structural backfill is compacted to create a stable reinforced mass. This system efficiently supports the terraced layout and road infrastructure above.
In addition to its structural and aesthetic benefits, the system enabled the reuse of site-won materials, supporting the project’s sustainability goals and reducing construction costs associated with material transport. The flexibility of the system also allowed for the incorporation of curved wall alignments, meeting the architectural vision of the development.
Used Products
