Major ground stabilisation works are now underway at Combe Lea Residential Care Home in Radstock on behalf of Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES). The project is focused on strengthening a six-metre-high timber crib retaining wall that terraces the gardens and has recently shown signs of movement.

The scheme builds on the success of similar works at Cleve Court in Twerton and was secured through competitive tender. Before work began, Pennine Geotechnical Services carried out detailed investigations, including trial pits, to understand soil conditions. Using this information, MESH developed a stabilisation solution centred on soil nailing and ground anchors, providing a long-term structural support system for the wall.

Working within a live care environment with restricted access has required careful planning. Comprehensive method statements and risk assessments were prepared before mobilisation to ensure safety for residents and workers. To overcome access limitations, King Lifting completed a three-storey, 10-tonne crane lift to position plant and materials safely into the rear garden. Following this, two excavator-mounted drill rigs and a dedicated grout plant were brought to site, supported by a temporary scaffold ramp to reach the required wall elevations.

The core stabilisation work involves installing 90mm diameter R32-360 hollow bar soil nails, drilled up to 7 metres deep. Using a rotary percussive drill mast, cement grout is continuously pumped through each hollow bar as it is advanced, simultaneously forming the bore and bonding the nail into the surrounding soil. The top 1.5 metres of each bar is galvanised to provide corrosion protection, and selected nails are tension tested up to 120kN to verify performance.

In addition, 3–4 metre rebar ground anchors are being installed to provide further restraint to the wall. At the surface, each soil nail is finished with a galvanised 250 x 250 x 10mm headplate and nut, with close-fitting protective bolt caps installed to maintain a pedestrian-safe environment.

To enhance surface stability, galvanised DELTAX mesh is being fixed across the timber crib wall and returned over the top, pinned at intervals to secure the structure. Supporting works include the removal of planters and paving to create safe working platforms, with surplus soil reused on site to fill a disused pond, reducing waste and improving site safety.

Together, these measures form a carefully coordinated stabilisation programme that not only secures the retaining wall for the long term but also enhances safety and accessibility within the gardens. Residents and visitors benefit from a safer environment, while the Council gains a durable, low-maintenance permanent solution future risk of structural issues.

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