Sustainable Slope Stabilisation for Rathdrum Housing Development

At the early design stage of the Wicklow residential development, traditional reinforced concrete retaining walls were specified to stabilise steep embankments and manage the site’s varied terrain. While commonly used, this approach quickly revealed several limitations in relation to sustainability, cost, and visual impact.

From an environmental standpoint, reinforced concrete retaining walls carry a high carbon footprint due to energy-intensive cement production. This conflicted with the client’s commitment to sustainable construction and low-carbon development. In addition, the stark appearance of concrete structures did not align with the project’s goal of integrating seamlessly into the natural Wicklow landscape.

There were also practical construction challenges. Reinforced concrete walls require complex formwork systems, extended curing times, and significant on-site labour. These factors would increase both project costs and construction programme duration, reducing overall efficiency. As a result, the project team began exploring alternative retaining wall solutions that could deliver structural performance while improving sustainability, reducing costs, and enhancing landscape integration.

To address these challenges, Maccaferri, working alongside distributor Geostrong, proposed the use of Green Terramesh®, an engineered solution for reinforced soil slopes and vegetated retaining walls. This modular system was specifically selected for its ability to combine structural stability with environmental and aesthetic benefits.

The first Green Terramesh installation was constructed as a reinforced soil embankment with a green facing. Its performance demonstrated excellent stability, ease of installation, and successful vegetation growth. Based on this success, the project team made the strategic decision to replace reinforced concrete retaining walls across the entire development.

In total, 2,005 square metres of Green Terramesh® were supplied by Maccaferri via Geostrong. Design optimisation was carried out in collaboration with Geoman, ensuring the solution was tailored to the site’s geotechnical conditions. The system provided a robust retaining wall solution while delivering a natural, vegetated finish that enhanced biodiversity and reduced visual impact, key factors for developments in environmentally sensitive locations.

The modular design of Green Terramesh® enabled faster construction compared to traditional concrete retaining walls, significantly reducing labour requirements, material usage, and overall project costs. Under the management of Regan Construction, nine reinforced soil slope structures were successfully completed during Phase One by November 2023.

The client, Oak Homes, expressed a high level of satisfaction with the outcome, highlighting the solution’s alignment with both sustainability goals and construction efficiency. With Phase Two scheduled for 2025, Green Terramesh® is expected to remain the preferred retaining wall system, supporting ongoing delivery of sustainable, cost-effective, and visually integrated infrastructure.