Case study

Hewitts Quay, Barking

Client: Rialto Homes
Our challenge was to develop an affordable engineering solution to refurbish river walls and flood defences to allow redevelopment of a derelict site on the River Roding. Reconstruction in front of the existing wall would not be acceptable due to environmental damage and loss of flood storage, so we devised an on line replacement solution, creating a gravity structure in place of the original tied structure.

Added value
Our solution turned the site from a liability to a viable development by avoiding the need for tie backs which would have limited residential development.  In-situ soil mixing eliminated off site disposal. Splitting the wall construction from the site development enabled the client to pass specialist risk to an expert contractor, while continuing to use their own labour and sub-contractors for the conventional house building.

Services supplied

• Survey of river wall and assessment of flood defences
• Design development with specialist contractor
• Securing permissions from PLA and EA
• Laboratory testing of strength parameters for stabilised soil
• Design of foundations and highway access for residential development