As retained Building Consultants to Grasmere CE Primary School, Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors successfully secured funding and managed the project to rebuild a deteriorating section of retaining wall between the main school building and the adjacent River Rothay.
The existing stone retaining wall had deteriorated significantly, raising concerns about its long-term stability. Given its role in retaining the land where the main school building is situated, as well as supporting the riverbank, remedial works were required to provide a robust, long-term solution.
Lea Hough successfully secured School Condition Allocation (SCA) funding for the project and subsequently oversaw the works as Contract Administrator.
The Works
The scheme involved the careful reconstruction of a section of the retaining wall, in accordance with designs prepared by the Structural Engineer.
Situated within the Lake District National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the school’s location required careful consideration to ensure the works were sympathetic to the surrounding setting.
The location of the wall also presented a number of additional challenges.
Before works could begin, a Flood Risk Activity Permit was required from the Environment Agency, which implemented environmental restrictions relating to fish spawning and migration, meaning the works had to be carefully programmed within a limited construction window during July and August.
Access to the wall was provided using scaffolding erected within the river itself, surrounded by a temporary sandbag cofferdam to ensure a dry working area. These measures allowed the works to be undertaken safely while helping to minimise the risk of pollution entering the watercourse.
The works included:
- Carefully dismantling identified section of the wall, which was approximately 5.0m long x 2.5m high.
- Constructing new concrete foundations in accordance with the Structural Engineer’s design.
- Forming a reinforced concrete backing wall, and rebuilding the facing of the wall using traditional construction to retain the character and appearance of the existing boundary.
- Carrying out localised repairs and other rebuilding works to other areas of the retaining wall, where deterioration had been identified.
Our Role
Lea Hough managed the project from the initial funding application, right through to completion. Our role included coordinating the design and procurement process, administering the contract and overseeing the works on site.
We worked closely with the school, Structural Engineer, local contractor and relevant environmental bodies to obtain the necessary approvals and ensure the project was delivered within the environmental and programme constraints.
Careful planning was essential to ensure the works were completed during the permitted construction period and outside the main school term.
The Outcome
The project was completed on time and within budget, and the school were delighted with the outcome.
The completed works have provided a substantial long-term repair to the wall, improving its structural stability and safeguarding the school buildings above.
