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Railway arch renovation fast-tracked by non-disruptive foundation solution

Challenge

A London railway arch conversion was stalled because dividing walls had no proper foundations and were built on soft London clay. The alternative was a full, disruptive demolition.

Solution

Geobear injected geopolymer resin at three levels below the foundations, increasing the soil's bearing capacity by up to 200% in just three days with no excavation.

3 days

Project completion time

200%

Up to 200% increase in soil bearing capacity

4

Arches stabilised

0

Major excavations required

Background

The project involved the conversion of four railway arches in the heart of London into office and storage spaces. The primary challenge was that the walls separating the arches from neighbouring gardens—critical to the new units—had been built directly onto the soil with minimal to no foundational support, making them unstable.

Challenge

The renovation's feasibility was at risk. The walls lacked adequate foundations and the ground beneath consisted of London clay, known for its potential to be soft and compromise structural stability. The main alternative solution was the complete removal of the existing walls and the construction of new foundations. However, this approach was deemed far too intrusive, time-consuming, and disruptive for the densely populated urban area.

The geopolymer enhanced the bearing capacity of the soil by up to 200% in some areas!

Solution

Geobear was contracted to implement a minimally intrusive ground improvement solution. The approach involved injecting a specialist geopolymer resin at three distinct levels below the existing wall foundations at specific intervals. This method was chosen to rapidly stabilise the foundations by enhancing the soil’s bearing capacity without the need for extensive excavation, demolition, or disruption to the neighbouring properties.

Interior view of drilled injection points with tubes inserted and safety caps
Close up view of cement floor with patches where injection points were inserted.

 

Results

The entire ground improvement project was completed in just three days. The geopolymer injection successfully enhanced the bearing capacity of the soil beneath the arches, increasing it by up to 200% in some areas. This ensured the long-term stability of the renovated arches, allowing the conversion to proceed quickly and efficiently. The client avoided a costly and time-consuming demolition, and disruption in the challenging urban environment was minimised.

Renovating on challenging ground?

Don't let poor or non-existent foundations stop your project. Stabilise the ground and save the structure.

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