With 379,443[1] listed properties across England facing a heightened structural risk from subsidence, ground engineering specialist Mainmark UK took to a leading industry event to highlight this issue.
The Listed Property Show at Olympia, London, was attended by owners, renovators, and devotees of historic buildings and is the UK's leading event dedicated to listed and period properties.
This exhibition allowed heritage property owners to speak directly with ground engineering experts at Mainmark and receive project-specific advice on advanced solutions for sub-structural issues such as subsidence, whether they are maintaining, altering, or renovating a listed building.
More than 7.65 million properties in Great Britain are expected to be exposed to a medium or high risk of soil subsidence by the 2080s[2] the issue needs to be monitored and tackled sooner rather than later.
Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a building sinks and can be caused by multiple factors, including adverse weather conditions like heatwaves, which excessively dries the soil, and heavy rain, which washes it out. Ultimately, the stability and safety of a structure can be severely impacted, which in turn can cause financial burdens and impact project timelines.
Small amounts of movement, which may be tolerable in modern buildings, can cause structural cracking in the solid masonry of listed buildings. Newer properties, typically constructed from the mid-20th century onwards, have flexible steel, reinforced concrete or engineered timber frames, articulated joints and cavity walls that accommodate ground movement by flexing rather than cracking. Due to this fragility, ground engineers often treat these buildings as special cases, balancing physical constraints with heritage protection and the risk of causing further damage when fixing structural issues.
Residential Lead, Freya Chapman, said: “Subsidence can have far more serious and costly consequences for listed buildings. Unlike modern structures, which can often better withstand or be repaired following ground movement, many listed properties, which can date back to before the 1800s, are far more vulnerable to significant damage.
“We want to raise awareness of the risks to historic buildings and support those seeking expert advice, services and solutions.”
Continuing a string of successful shows, Mainmark previously appeared at the sector-leading events Local Government Procurement Expo in November and UK Construction Week in October. Showcasing its depth of expertise in ground engineering solutions, the firm demonstrated ground engineering solutions, while its team of advisors were on hand to guide visitors facing their own subsidence challenges.
Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of the Mainmark group of companies, established in 2016. The company, located in Milton Keynes, has over three decades of experience and has established itself as a pioneering force in the industry, leading the way in developing and delivering cutting-edge solutions. Mainmark has earned international recognition as an award-winning ground engineering organisation.