2001
Highwycombe, Buckinghamshire
Salmon Harvester Properties Ltd
Dove Brothers
Powell Tolner Assoicates
Retaining Wall Solution for Steep Slope Redevelopment in High Wycombe
Before construction Date: July 2001
Soon after construction Date: November 2001
2 years after construction Date: May 2004
Challenge
Creating an aesthetically pleasing environment is just as critical as ensuring effective soil retention when redeveloping sites on steep or uneven ground. This challenge was encountered during the redevelopment of a constrained site in High Wycombe, located alongside the busy A40 Oxford Road. The site, cut into a steep hillside and bordered by major roads on two sides, presented significant engineering and access limitations.
Salmon Harvester Properties Ltd commissioned the redevelopment to deliver 44,000 sq ft of office space along with parking for 190 vehicles. Due to the steep gradient and proximity to infrastructure, consulting engineers Powell Tolner & Associates specified a contiguous concrete piled retaining wall with ground anchors to stabilise the road above the site. While structurally effective, this solution resulted in a visually intrusive concrete face, which detracted from the overall landscape and the outlook from the new office development.
With increasing demand for sustainable construction and visually appealing retaining wall systems, the project required an alternative solution that would combine structural integrity with enhanced environmental and aesthetic performance.
Solution
To address both the engineering and visual challenges, Dove Brothers Ltd, part of the Laing O’Rourke Group, worked in collaboration with Maccaferri and GLD Landscape Architects Ltd to deliver an innovative reinforced soil retaining wall solution.
Maccaferri’s Green Terramesh® system was selected due to its fast installation, adaptability to restricted access sites, and ability to create a vegetated retaining wall. This modular system is manufactured from hexagonal double-twist steel wire mesh and forms a reinforced soil structure with an integrated facing. Each unit consists of a facing panel, soil reinforcement tail, and top return section, providing stability even on steep slopes.
The system includes triangular support brackets and a welded mesh panel to ensure structural rigidity and ease of construction in challenging conditions. Behind the facing, a biodegradable coir geotextile layer retains topsoil, enabling vegetation establishment and supporting sustainable drainage.
To further enhance the green infrastructure, a ‘leaky pipe’ irrigation system was installed to promote plant growth. In collaboration with landscape architects, shade-tolerant planting was introduced to create a natural, visually appealing finish. This vegetated retaining wall not only improves the aesthetic quality of the site but also contributes to biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
The final solution successfully transformed an unattractive concrete retaining wall into a green, reinforced soil slope, delivering both structural performance and an enhanced working environment for office occupants.
Used Products
