Sainsbury’s flagship store in Newport, South Wales was constructed to coincide with the 2010 Ryder Cup, hosted at the nearby Celtic Manor Resort.

Phi Group was contacted at an early stage  by main contractor, Kier Group, to help develop a solution to remove an existing 6m high retaining wall adjacent to the highway, whilst also cutting into the exposed embankment to create a larger car park. Various solutions were investigated, including piling behind the existing wall. However, access issues made these solutions impractical and expensive.

Phi Group proposed the use of its Andacrib concrete crib retaining wall system. A tough, durable system, it is has been used on many projects, including highways and rail projects where a 120 year minimum service life is required. Planting bags can be used to soften the system's visual impact making it very popular on housing and retails schemes. Andacrib system is very quick to construct, with build rates of 30m2 face area per day.

This project had a particular restraint - an existing public highway was situated just 10m away from the line of the proposed retaining wall. Temporary earthworks issues were paramount, with the local Highways Authority needing to be satisfied that any solution proposed would have no impact of the carriageway above. Phi Group proposed the use of temporary soil nails to stabilise the temporary earthworks profile as the excavation for the proposed Andacrib concrete crib retaining wall was undertaken. Phi Group undertook the design, supply and installation of both the Andacrib retaining wall and the temporary soil nailing. This was a particular benefit for the client as it meant that all retaining wall works were in one contractor’s package.

Keller Foundations, Phi Group’s sister company, also carried out a considerable amount of piling works for the new store foundations.