As part of the £230 million regeneration project to redevelop the former Barry Dockland area, Neal Remediation were appointed as Principal Contractor to provide ground improvement services for the future housing development.

The site investigation had revealed that there were extensive underground structures that required removal. Following topsoil stripping and storage 60,000m3 of near surface soils were excavated to remove these structures and soils re-compacted to provide an engineer platform for the works. Where necessary soils were treated via lime stabilisation to meet the strict performance criteria for the engineered plateau and the resultant excavated foundations were crushed to produce a recycled aggregate for incorporation into the works.

Sandwiched between the made ground at the surface of the site and mudstone and siltstone rock head was a layer of very soft and compressible estuarine alluvium. Without treatment this alluvium would lead to unacceptable settlements for the future development it was therefore necessary to treat these soils using band drainage and surcharge loads. Using Neal Remediation’s band drain rig almost 20,000 no. band drains were installed on a 1.5m triangular grid. Following the band drain installation monitoring pins and piezometers were installed followed by the placement of 45,000 m3 of surcharge load. Once all the surcharge had been placed the pins were monitored on weekly basis to record the settlement being induced by the surcharge and piezometers readings were taken to record the reduction in pore water pressure in the alluvium. Once the Geotechnical Engineer was satisfied the required level of consolidation had been achieved the surcharge was excavated and placed on the next area of band drains and the process repeated.