Case Study: Remembrance Road Badger Sett Filling and Embankment Stabilisation
Background
Kent County Council contacted Geobear with an urgent requirement following a landslip on an embankment in Folkestone, Kent, adjacent to a highway. The embankment had failed due to a combination of factors, including extensive badger setts that had compromised its stability. As a result, soil had slipped onto the road below, which had to be closed. While the large residential property at the top of the slope was not immediately affected, urgent stabilisation works were needed to protect it.
Traditional excavation methods were not viable due to the steepness of the slope and the difficulty of accessing the site with plant equipment. The badgers had been successfully relocated and signed off by ecologists, but the setts remained as voids within the embankment. These needed to be permanently filled before the badger season resumed on 22nd November — a hard deadline for the council and its contractor.
Geobear Solution
Geobear was engaged to provide a geopolymer injection solution. The geopolymer material is ideal for inaccessible or sensitive locations — injected as a liquid through steel tubes, it rapidly expands to fill voids and hardens within minutes.
- Access: Technicians used a cherry picker (MEWP) to reach six known badger sett locations spread across the steep embankment.
- Injection: Tubes up to 6 metres long were inserted into the tunnels, and the geopolymer was injected to fill all internal voids.
- Execution: Although originally scheduled over two shifts, the works were completed in a single extended shift due to high wind forecasts. The team began at 6:00 a.m. and worked through the day to complete the project on time.
Why Geobear?
- ✔️ Non-intrusive: No excavation or earthworks required
- ✔️ Fast-curing: Material sets in minutes, allowing immediate follow-on works
- ✔️ Lightweight: Avoids adding mass to an unstable slope
- ✔️ Drillable: Anchors can be installed through the material
- ✔️ Environmentally inert: Safe to use in ecologically sensitive areas
Carbon Saving
Geobear’s solution delivered a significant reduction in embodied carbon compared to traditional methods:
| Method | Estimated CO₂e Emissions |
|---|---|
| Traditional excavation and concrete backfill (~25m³) | ~3.6–4.2 tonnes CO₂e |
| Geobear geopolymer injection | ~1.1–1.3 tonnes CO₂e |
This equates to a carbon saving of approximately 70% versus conventional methods.
Time and Cost Saving
| Approach | Estimated Duration | Site Impact | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional (excavation and backfill) | 7–10 working days | High extensive works | 100% (baseline) |
| Geobear injection (completed) | 1 day | Minimal disturbance | 51–62% of traditional cost |
The project was delivered over 80% faster and at up to 49% lower cost than traditional excavation-based alternatives. Geobear completed the works for £28,000, compared to an estimated £45,000–£55,000 for conventional methods.
Outcome
- ✅ All six badger setts were filled permanently before the 22nd November deadline.
- ✅ The embankment was made safe for planned anchoring and concrete stabilisation works.
- ✅ The solution avoided disruption to the road network and protected the residential property above.
