Category Archives: retaining walls

BASEMENT PLANNING RULES CHANGE

With increasing numbers of basements being constructed, readers may find a recent legal ruling of interest.  In it, a High Court judge has ruled that basement extensions must have planning permission if they require excavation and engineering works.  They may no longer be carried out under permitted development rights.

For more information, see the following links:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/02/blow-basement-builders-judge-rules-specific-planning-permission/

https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/court-decision-means-tougher-rules-for-basement-extensions/10015552.article

The full effect of the ruling is yet to be seen, but it seems that it would be prudent for architects and engineers to advise their clients to seek planning permission early in the process.  It is likely that permission will be needed for most projects, especially if engineering works are required as well as excavations.  This may increase the need for ground assessments and geotechnical designs to be undertaken, for example for retaining walls and foundations.

 

GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN FOR PEAK RESORT

We are pleased to announce that we have now completed the current geotechnical design aspects of the S278 highway works for Peak Resort in Derbyshire.  Working with Inspire Design & Development, and Groundsmiths, we have prepared the earthworks design for the new access road and A61 slip road diversion to EC7.  We have also looked at the existing slopes adjacent to the River Drone for good measure, whilst Groundsmiths have looked at the mining risk aspects.

 

NEW HIGHWAY AND EARTHWORKS COMMISSION

We are pleased to announce that we are about to commence work on a new major leisure and commercial development in Derbyshire.  Access to the currently confidential site will require highway diversion works and construction of an access road across sidelong ground.  Works are to be undertaken in accordance with EC7, and the scope of work to be undertaken by Surepath Consulting will include inputs to the ground investigation design, slope stability appraisals and earthworks assessments, as well as provision of geotechnical support to the highway and bridge specialists.  We aim to be able to release further details of the project in due course.

 

BURIED RIVERS – INTERESTING SNIPPET!

We came across the following snippet on LinkedIn recently and thought it a useful reminder that when assessing ground risk you need to do more than just commission an Envirocheck Report or similar….

“Did you know that many of London’s rivers have been ‘lost’? This can be rather important if you are building a basement. The rivers Fleet, Tyburn, and Westbourne, to name but a few, historically ran through London to the Thames. Many were replaced by combined sewers in the late 19th Century and are no longer seen at surface.”

The river flowing through a basement is quite amusing, especially the fish that seem to be visible!  For more details follow this link  to the original article.

 

EXCELLENCE DEMONSTRATED!

Surepath Consulting is part of Surepath Training, and as part of our quality processes we have recently audited our training course feedback. The headline finding was a 94% excellent / very good rating of all the quantitative feedback received for our courses, with a 2:1 bias to excellent. This superb feedback is something we are very proud of, and it reflects too the emphasis we put on quality in all our consultancy work too! Please contact our Andy Goodwin using the Contacts page if you wish to discuss how we can ensure quality of delivery for all your consultancy, training or mentoring needs.