Contractors Norwest Holst & Deacon Landscapes install DeepRoot Silva Cell system at the new Waitrose supermarket in Winchester.

Contractors Norwest Holst & Deacon Landscapes, have recently completed construction of the new Waitrose supermarket in Winchester. The new development is a purpose built shopping complex that offers a mixed-use retail outlet and outdoor cafe terrace.

The design plans for the redevelopment of the site included planting a number of trees. The benefits of which would be to help cool and clean the air, help manage storm water on site and reduce run-off; In addition to adding to the aesthetics of the site and providing shade and a habitat for wildlife.

A problem the contractors faced planting trees in an unnatural environment was creating an area of un-compacted soil needed to support the healthy growth of the trees. To ensure the success of the newly planted trees the contractors needed to create a structural void that would sit between a concrete slap and the new hard landscaped terraced deck.

The solution supplied through Geosynthetics was the use of Silva Cells. The Silva Cell framework creates an open void which is filled with un-compacted soil. Made from an ultra high-strength compound of polypropylene and glass fibre, the Silva Cell modular system was made up of 73 cells, containing 21m³ of un-compacted soil that will remain un-compacted during the lifespan of the trees.

This Silva Cell system provides a healthy environment for tree roots to prosper, encouraging the tree to grow to its full potential and maximum canopy size

Since its introduction, the pioneering DeepRoot Silva Cell system has become globally recognised as a solution for sustainable urban development, bringing the environmental utility of the forest to the city.

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