Slieve Gullion Forest Car Park

Slieve Gullion is a designated Area of Outstanding National Beauty with the highest surviving passage grave in Ireland. The car park provides access to the trail leading to the summit.

Location

Sieve Gullion, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Developer

Newry, Mourne & Down District Council

Product

Timber Crib

Identifying Retaining Wall Needs

Initially the designers had contemplated a modular block retaining wall with geogrid reinforcement. Retain began a collaborative process with the County Engineers and outside consultants Nicholas O’Dwyer & Partners. Given the rural location, Retain suggested a Timber Crib retaining wall on aesthetic grounds

How Retain Contributed

Given the design change there was a bit of back and forward with all the interested parties. Retain produced finalised contract drawings and agreed a cost with the main contractor White Mountain, part of the Breedon Group.

Although Retain had worked with White Mountain in the past, this was our first time collaborating since they had become part of the Breedon Group. As part of their systems, we were audited for our Health & Safety Policy and our Insurance details including £5 million Professional Indemnity cover and our 4 other main construction policies.

The retaining wall reached a height of 4m and was completed on time and on budget.

Our

30 years experience: identified the need for a specialist Geotechnical Consultant at an early stage
“Full Cycle involvement”: guaranteed the iteration of the various parties progressed smoothly to the appearance on site
Professionally Indemnified Design: lead to the provision of collateral warranties
Accurate estimating: meant the cost savings were reflected in the final invoice