Scarborough Housing Development Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls on Challenging Sloping Ground

A new residential housing development at Lady Edith’s in Scarborough comprised 49 homes for rent and shared ownership. The site presented significant geotechnical and topographical challenges, as it was located on a sloping site with poor ground conditions. These constraints reduced the amount of usable land and made traditional construction methods unsuitable.

Termrim Construction required an effective retaining wall solution to create two-level platforms across the site. The objective was to maximise usable space for housing plots within a compact development area while ensuring long-term structural stability and compliance with engineering standards.

Maccaferri delivered a comprehensive ground engineering solution using a combination of reinforced soil systems and retaining wall technologies tailored to the site conditions, space limitations, and aesthetic requirements.

The MacWall system, a segmental block retaining wall with reinforced soil backfill, was installed between housing plots. This mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall system incorporates ParaGrid geogrid reinforcement placed between courses of dry-laid segmental blocks and combined with compacted structural fill to create a strong, monolithic structure. Built with a 4-degree setback from vertical, MacWall provides excellent stability and durability. Within this development, it enabled the creation of level terraces between plots, maximising garden space and improving land use efficiency. The “stone cut” block finish delivered a high-quality, natural appearance that complements traditional construction styles in the Scarborough area.

For the perimeter of the site, Green Terramesh was used as a reinforced soil retaining system with a vegetated face. This BBA HAPAS-certified solution offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional retaining walls. Its vegetated finish allows seamless integration into the surrounding landscape while promoting biodiversity and supporting SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems). With a 120-year design life, Green Terramesh provides long-term performance and durability. The system also enabled the housing plots to extend to the site boundary, maximising the developable area.

In areas where space for retaining structures was limited, gabion walls were installed. These flexible, cost-effective retaining solutions are ideal for constrained sites, offering both structural support and ease of installation.

Together, these engineered retaining wall solutions overcame challenging ground conditions, optimised land use on a sloping site, and delivered a durable, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable housing development in Scarborough.