08/01/2026
BRIDPORT ANCHORING – STABILISING A FAILING EMBANKMENT
In Bridport, a roadside embankment had begun to fail under the pressure of the road above, threatening to collapse into a residential garden below. Traditional retaining methods would have meant excavation, shuttering and concrete – slow, disruptive and costly.
“Save two to three months on traditional methods of installing concrete retaining walls, no excavations, muck away, design and construction – design it, bore it = carbon saving time, up to 120 years design life.”
This project was sourced and managed by Umberslade, who invited Platipus® Anchors to provide material costs and an initial technical assessment.
A full road closure was required to carry out the works safely. Constructing a conventional retaining wall would have required a much longer closure period – potentially double or even triple the duration of our installation – causing major disruption to residents and traffic.
As approved installers of the Platipus® Earth Anchoring System, Umberslade delivered a fast, low-impact stabilisation using percussive-driven earth anchors. Anchors were installed with lightweight drilling rigs, load-locked, and tensioned to immediately secure the slope.
Across the surface, we laid Geosynthetics Ltd 150 mm deep 3D cellular confinement system Strataweb, with soil compacted into the cells, then finished with Enkamat 7018 to encapsulate the soil and promote vegetation regrowth.
The entire works were completed within a two-week period, providing a strong, durable, and environmentally sensitive solution. Early assessments indicate the approach could deliver up to a 93% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a traditional retaining wall (confirmation to follow from Platipus®).
This project demonstrates how modern ground engineering techniques can reduce disruption, shorten programme time, and significantly cut carbon impact while achieving long-term stability.
Umberslade Diamond Drilling & Sawing Limited
Ladywood Farm, Elvers Green Lane, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0AA
01675 443 727
[email protected]
www.umbersladedrill.biz
