FP McCann has supplied the complete package of its reinforced precast concrete earth retaining ‘L’ Walls which have been installed on a brand-new, multi-faceted, housing development in Middleton, Manchester. Kellen Homes partnering with Sigma Capital Group and First Choice Homes Oldham, is building 311 new homes at Mill Vale, formerly the site of an old cotton mill.
The development once complete, will comprise of quality affordable homes and ‘build-to-rent’ properties. Kellen Homes will also be contributing over £1 million towards education, outdoor sports and wildlife projects to ensure the scheme becomes a sustainable part of the local community.
With significant groundwork requirements and changes in elevation across the Mill Vale site, the project involves substantial earthworks. Stockport based construction and civil engineering specialist Westshield is undertaking the main infrastructure works which includes the installation of the four earth retaining ‘L’ Walls. Following a review of their in-situ wall options, the Kellen Homes in-house design team in conjunction Westshield opted for an off-site manufactured precast concrete ‘L’ Wall system in recognition that this method of walling is a simple, fast process, eliminating the need for shuttering, steel foundation formwork and the pouring of wet concrete. An additional benefit of the ‘L’ Wall system is that no propping is required during construction.
FP McCann has supplied some 200 individual Standard, Large and Bed ‘L’ Walls ranging from 1.0 metre to 4.5 metres high. The precast units have been delivered from FP McCann’s Lydney and Byley factories in Gloucestershire and Cheshire. As part of the supply package, FP McCann also provided the GA Setting out Plan Drawing for the four retaining/boundary walls.
Each separate run of walling acts as a soil retention barrier. Once fixed into position on a concrete foundation slab, earth is backed up against the ‘L’ Walls as part of the raised ground levelling work surrounding and within the development’s footprint.
Commenting on the earth retaining ‘L’ Walls in place, Neil Jones, Build Manager for Kellen Homes says, “The precast concrete ‘L’ Wall system is a simple, durable and cost-efficient means of creating an earth retaining wall, allowing our civil engineering contractor to work efficiently and confidently with elevation changes on site. After familiarising themselves with the setting out process, the skilled Westshield team safely installed the ‘L’ Walls. To construct such earth retaining walls using traditional on-site methods, is both costly and time consuming when working to tight build schedules”.
Standard precast concrete ‘L’ Wall units are available in heights measuring 1.0m to 3.75m from FP McCann’s Lydney, Grantham and Uddingston precast factories and Large ‘L’ Walls from 4.0m to 6.0m from Byley.