Stirling Business Park, Rochester, Kent – UK

The timber crib retaining walls at Stirling Business Park had deteriorated significantly, causing localised bulging, loss of stone fill and partial collapse of the wall face. Investigations found extensive decay…

Sector / Application

Infrastructure, Retaining Structures & Walls

Overview

The timber crib retaining walls at Stirling Business Park had deteriorated significantly, causing localised bulging, loss of stone fill and partial collapse of the wall face. Investigations found extensive decay of exposed timber headers and stretchers, while timbers protected within the stone-filled cells generally remained serviceable. As exposed sections loosened or detached, stone escaped and reduced the structure’s integrity.

A remedial solution was required to secure an approximately 290m linear extent with heights between 0.5m and 3m, containing the existing fill, and preventing further movement without complete reconstruction. Extremely restricted access, nearby foundations, buried services and the site boundary also had to be considered when developing the stabilisation scheme.

Solution

To accommodate varying wall heights, ground conditions, and site restraints, an anchor scheme comprising 1,041 Stealth and BAT anchors was developed. The anchors were installed through galvanised steel mesh and non-woven geotextile using a combination of handheld breakers, tracked machinery, and Brokk Machines. Each anchor was proof tested to loads ranging from 5.5kN to 31.9kN before being loadlocked at its working load. Stainless steel load plates were secured against the steel mesh, while a second plate terminated within the gabion basket tied them back to the mechanical anchor.This provided a practical, cost and time-effective permanent solution that stabilised the existing timber crib wall and retained the stone fill without requiring complete reconstruction.