Overview

Phi Group designed, supplied and installed a Permacrib retaining wall to one side of a new acoustic bund at a new housing project at the former Dumfries College site. Phi had been involved in the project for a long time prior to commencement on site. After a lengthy design and planning process, permission to start construction of the much-needed housing was given in 2019.  

Challenge

Once planning was granted, works started quickly, and the enabling works package was let to Ashleigh (Scotland) limited. As part of the planning conditions, an acoustic bund was required on the perimeter of the site to screen the new houses from existing properties. This bund needed to be 5.0m high and 315m long, with an additional acoustic fence on top, and fell within the enabling works.

When space is not a concern, then installing a bund with gently sloping sides is possible, and is also the most cost-effective solution as it is simply an earthworks exercise. However, space was at a premium for this project and the land take for the bund had to be kept to a manageable level to maximise the available development space. To do this the slopes of the bund needed to be made steeper. This can be done by using back-to-back structures if both sides need to be steepened up, or simply steepening up one side of the slope. Reinforced soil can be a good option for this, as can a gravity retaining wall to one side of the bund.

Solution

In this instance Phi Group's BBA-certified Permacrib timber crib solution was chosen as the preferred method. Phi Group designed, supplied and installed a Permacrib wall to one side of the new bund. The Permacrib retaining wall is 315m long and up to 5.26m retained height. In all over 1,500m2 of Permacrib has been installed, working closely with Ashleigh (Scotland) to ensure the bund was constructed safely and on programme.