When this service may be useful
Retaining walls on boundaries and sloping gardens are often affected by extensions, basements and landscaping. Councils and neighbours may want reassurance that the wall will remain stable.
Structure, basements & ground
Retaining Wall Condition and Impact Assessments
Assessment of existing retaining walls affected by a proposal, including condition and capacity.
How the work is approached
A structural engineer inspects the wall, records its condition and considers how the proposal changes the loads and drainage it is subject to.
What you receive
You receive a report on condition and risk, with recommendations. Design of new or strengthened walls is a separate instruction.
What we need to start
Site address, photographs, levels and proposed drawings.
We review the site, proposal and planning stage to agree the appropriate scope. The work is carried out by a suitably qualified specialist we appoint, named in your fee proposal.
How our planning consultancy process worksILLUSTRATIVE REPORT PREVIEW
Retaining Wall Assessment
Front cover and contents page examples. The document structure is tailored to your instruction, site and relevant planning requirements.
What the report should contain
This outline explains the purpose of each section. The final contents depend on the agreed scope, available evidence and requirements of the local planning authority.
Document control & executive summary
Project details, reference, revision, date, author, reviewer and a concise summary of the key findings.
Wall description
Location, form, height and what the wall retains.
Inspection & limitations
What was inspected and how.
Condition & defects
Observed condition, movement and drainage.
Effect of the proposal
Changes in loading, levels or drainage proposed.
Capacity & risk
Whether the wall is suitable for the proposed conditions.
Recommendations
Repair, strengthening, monitoring or further investigation.
Appendices & evidence register
Index relevant plans, photographs, calculations, surveys and source documents; include only the evidence relevant to this instruction.
Read our planning supporting documents guide to explore related evidence.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Retaining wall assessments FAQs
Clear answers to help you plan your next step.
Still have a question?
Tell us about the site and we will confirm what is needed and what it should cost.
Make an enquiryWho is responsible for a boundary retaining wall?
Responsibility depends on ownership and title. The report addresses the wall's structural condition, not legal responsibility, which should be confirmed by your solicitor.
What information should I provide to get started?
Site address, photographs, levels and proposed drawings.
How is the fee for this service confirmed?
The price shown is a starting estimate for the stated scope. We review the site, proposal, available information and required deliverables, then confirm the fee, exclusions and programme in a written quotation before appointment.
How do your specialists work together on a project?
We bring the relevant planning consultants and specialist providers into a coordinated project team. They work from an agreed brief and current proposal, with dependencies and design changes discussed across disciplines. Each consultant remains responsible for their own professional advice and agreed deliverables.
PART OF A COORDINATED APPOINTMENT
Your specialist evidence, connected.
This service can form part of a wider coordinated planning appointment. We bring the relevant consultants together to work alongside your design team, discuss assessment findings and identify how recommendations affect other reports and the proposal.
Your fee proposal confirms who prepares each document, the information it relies on and the limits of the instruction. A report provides evidence for the council’s assessment; the planning decision remains the council’s. Explore how our consultants work together or discuss the team your project needs.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Discuss your requirements.
Tell us about the site, what you want to achieve and any deadline. We will review it and suggest an appropriate next step.
Call 020 8004 4464 or email info@greencodeconsultants.com.