Project Overview

We delivered river erosion protection for Mansfield District Council at River View in Warsop, Nottinghamshire. The River Meden had eroded the riverbank for over a decade.

This undermined the footpath and embankment serving two blocks of residential flats. As a result, the council closed part of the footpath for safety.

A Gabion Basket Solution for River Erosion Protection

We designed and built a 65-metre gabion basket retaining wall to solve this problem. The wall runs from the start of the erosion, around a natural bend in the river, to a footbridge beyond. In addition, we installed reno mattresses in front of the baskets at the river’s natural curves. This provided extra protection against future erosion.

Water ingress was a constant challenge as we dug below river level. Therefore, we sealed our cofferdam using polythene sheeting and sandbags. Where water still got through, we used over-pumping. This moved from sub-pumps up to 6-inch continuous pumps as needed.

The embankment’s steep sides also created a risk of collapse. Because of this, we paused work to install sheet piles as we progressed along the site. This kept our excavations safe throughout the project.

Hot weather brought a further challenge, as the dry ground created dust across the site. We used water from the excavation to dampen the area and reduce dust. Meanwhile, our operatives worked at height on the stacked baskets. So, we fitted harnesses and lanyards secured to the baskets for safety.

Close collaboration with Mansfield District Council and our design team meant we communicated changes quickly. As a result, we kept the project on track despite a shifting scope.

Outcomes

Our river erosion protection scheme has stopped further damage to the riverbank. This protects the embankment and the homes it serves for years to come.

We fully reinstated the footpath, giving residents safe access once again. In addition, we planted fresh grass seed to restore the landscape around the site.

The new gabion baskets replace the previous stone pitching, which had failed over time. This gives the embankment much greater longevity and reduces the risk of future damage.

We delivered the project without any defects or health and safety issues. The client praised the finished scheme, describing it as “epic.”