Work to resolve a number of landslips along the A488 Hope Valley has been Highly Commended at the Ground Engineering Awards 2026.
Delivered by Shropshire Council and its partners Kier and WSP, the scheme addressed persistent landslip challenges along a 1km stretch of this key route — caused by saturated clay soils, heavy rainfall and repeated flooding from an adjacent brook.
Between June and August 2025 the team stabilised four landslip sites, using a combination of raised concrete bases, gabion baskets and rock armour to provide long-term resilience while minimising impact to the surrounding Site of Special Scientific Interest and ancient woodland. Drainage work was also carried out to redirect the surface water.
Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council and councillor for Chirbury and Worthen, said:
“The scale and complexity of the work involved in this scheme was incredible and very impressive. This commendation is a fantastic and much deserved achievement for everyone involved.”
Ian Mcllelan, general manager with Kier Infrastructure, said:
“Working together as part of the Shropshire Highways alliance, our teams combined engineering expertise, careful planning and strong collaboration to make these stabilisation works a success.
“The A488 is a vital route for commuters, hospital visits, trips to college, everyday shopping and more. By protecting this section from future landslips, we’re not only delivering with the natural environment in mind but significantly enhancing safety and ensuring essential access for our local communities.
“It’s been a complex scheme to work on, and we’re proud to be recognised at the Ground Engineering Awards for this solution, which will help keep the road stable for years to come.”
As well as delivering a technically robust solution, the project placed strong emphasis on environmental stewardship and community engagement — from ecological supervision and working closely with the Environment Agency, to maintaining resident access and delivering proactive communications throughout.
This video shows some of the work being carried out:
Further information
Phase 1 of the scheme was carried out in March/April 2025 and included the clearance of vegetation and trees, detailed assessments of the highway drainage system, work on the local ditches and culverts, and a detailed assessment of the slopes within the closure area to ascertain the full extent of work required in phase 2.
Ground Engineering magazine was launched in 1968 and has gained a reputation as the must-read publication for the geotechnical industry for news on the latest contract awards, project progress, standards and technical innovation.
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