Flood wall replaced after Storm Eunice wreaked havoc
Last year we installed a steel sheet pile flood defence wall in the Derbyshire town of Matlock, on the edge of the River Derwent. This was following a storm event in which rising flood waters from the river overwhelmed the previous wall. Neighbouring properties were left exposed after a section of the old privately owned wall collapsed, threatening to undermine the adjacent defences.
Main piling operations concluded around the end of 2022, which meant that flood protection could be swiftly reinstated. The new flood wall has been reducing the risk of future flooding from the river to around 50 homes and businesses in Matlock since then.
Sheet piles in disguise!
Follow-on work to clad the sheet piles with stonework is now well underway. The materials being used have been selected to match the character of local architecture and to blend in effortlessly with the adjacent Grade II* listed Matlock Bridge. Derbyshire stone from a nearby quarry has been sourced to maintain the heritage look and colour palette of the area.
Whilst we can’t deny the aesthetics of the wall are being greatly improved (and rightly so), please spare a thought for our sheet piles which are doing all the hard work and will soon be hidden from view!
Landmark project – hardest ground ever?
This was a landmark project for Ivor King, installing sheet piles into some of the most challenging ground conditions we’ve ever encountered. Not only that, but the installation was carried out vibration-free, utilising two of our Giken Supercrush Silent Pilers,
The technique was selected due the town-centre location, the sensitive nature of the historical Matlock Bridge, and to overcome the extremely tough Derbyshire limestone.
Congratulations also to main contractors, Jackson Civil Engineering, who recently received two prestigious industry awards for their response to the flood and the subsequent rebuild. Ivor King are extremely proud to have been involved in this fantastic Environment Agency led project to restore and improve flood defences in Matlock.
