Challenge

The shortage of new land available for residential, commercial or industrial development has put the spotlight firmly on groundworks and since ideal sites for development become increasingly scarce, contractors are now redeveloping existing sites and building on hilly and uneven terrain that would have been previously considered unsuitable for building. This, in turn, has created a whole raft of new challenges associated with the selection of cost effective, aesthetically pleasing and sustainable retaining wall solutions and, as such, attention is now focussed on the improvement of the national rail infrastructure.

Transport for London required a new stretch of railway from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction to complete the missing link around London.

Solution

With this in mind, in 2011, Anderton Concrete was awarded a contract with Birse Metro to supply 3,500m² of their Keystone retaining wall system for use on the final part of the £75m orbital London orbital overground rail network.

The Keystone walls on this project, some up to 7m high, support the new railway line in a number of different situations, including a new bridge structure across Surrey Canal Road.

The walls were built predominantly from a dark pewter colour with band courses of light grey flint enhancing the final design.

Outcome

Shaun Forrester, Sales & Marketing Director for Anderton Concrete commented: “A combination of Keystone modular units, positive pin and comb connections and soil reinforcing geogrids delivers ‘rock solid’ stability and performance – its enhanced connection between grid and block is critical to ensure economic designs and the product is available on a design and supply basis.

We are delighted to work with Birse Metro on this exciting Transport for London project. With the support of Birse Metro we have helped to deliver this project within the tight time-scales and budget to improve this key transport link for those living and working within this area of south London.”

London Overground is being extended from Clapham Junction to Dalston Junction, making journeys between east and south west London much quicker and easier for passengers.

The new services started in December 2012 with trains running every 15 minutes calling at Wandsworth Road, Clapham High Street, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Queens Road Peckham, Surrey Quays, the City and all stations to Dalston Junction.

The new railway line is 1.3k long and links the London Overground services at Surrey Quays with the existing railway near Old Kent Road.