12/09/2026
A challenging retaining wall project completed in Stockport.
The existing retaining wall formed the boundary between a lower-level car park and an apartment building at the higher level and had developed a significant lean.
Removing and rebuilding the wall in full wasn’t a practical option. The potential risk to the building behind, together with the temporary works, access requirements and associated costs, meant we needed to develop a different solution.
For the first 3m section, we installed a concrete interlocking “Lego” block retaining wall to provide restraint to the existing structure, with the void behind backfilled using no-fines concrete.
Along the remaining section, restricted access caused by steps to the neighbouring property and existing manholes meant a different approach was required. We carefully dismantled the upper section of the existing wall and rebuilt it using concrete blocks laid flat, bringing the wall back into line while retaining the lower section.
During the works we also uncovered a completely unexpected problem.
A tree growing immediately behind the retaining wall appeared to have contributed significantly to the movement at the worst-affected corner. Once we began cutting the tree back, we discovered that the trunk had actually grown through the cavity wall of the neighbouring café, pushing the external brickwork outwards and continuing approximately 1m inside the building cavity.
We carefully dismantled the external leaf, traced the tree trunk back through the cavity and removed as much as possible without disturbing the café’s internal wall. The external wall was then rebuilt promptly, providing a safe and practical solution to an unforeseen problem.
A project that required plenty of problem-solving, careful sequencing and adapting the works as conditions were uncovered on site.
📍 Stockport
MAP Building Contractors Ltd
Built on trust.
BuildingContractor PropertyDevelopment Groundworks Masonry CommercialConstruction NorthWestConstruction ProblemSolving ConstructionUK
