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Original poster

Calling anyone out there with engineering, building or gardening knowledge or in fact, anyone who can come up with a solution to this problem

77 replies

Zog · 18/03/2007 09:30

I have a huge hole in my garden. Filling it would be very expensive as it's so deep but I was wondering about the feasibility of building something in or across the hole that I could then turf on top of.

Is this possible? Can anyone think of any other solution, however left field ?

TIA

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Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 19:52

I think it might have been a small quarry for flint but who knows - maybe a bomb crater??

Do you really think a building/landscaping firm would be interested? Does it cost them to dispose of hardcore/excess soil?

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Cloudhopper · 18/03/2007 19:55

I would definitely fill it. Our neighbours have built a high decking platform and it is now a home to about 5 foxes. They make a lot of noise - screaming etc.

At first it was a novelty, but as it is only 6ft from the house it is a mild irritant when dd wakes up with the howling and screaming noises.

stoppinattwo · 18/03/2007 19:58

Zog email me, I may have a few ideas........Disposal of topsoil/ and building materials is an expensive business atm. You could allow a builder/ contractor to dump topsoil etc in your garden FOC, but make sure they compact it!!

[email protected] you need any more ideas

stoppinattwo · 18/03/2007 19:59

it is about £20-30 a m3 do dispose of excavated material so an area you have would be of some interest

Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 20:03

That much? I could save them a fortune! Do you reckon they'd be prepared to trundle it through from front to back as that's a big stumbling block for me doing it.

Stoppinattwo will mail you, thank you.

Interesting about the foxes - I seriously thought about the decking option but will totally discount it now.

lol at Blu's heffalump trap

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giddy1 · 18/03/2007 20:09

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Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 20:10

Is that how much it works out at giddy? Good grief, my neighbours would love me

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Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 20:33

stoppinattwo have emailed you

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giddy1 · 18/03/2007 20:35

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Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 20:51

Ah a surveyor - this is right up his treet then .

We're just north of London.

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Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 20:51

street

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StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 18/03/2007 21:07

If the going rate is £20 a cubic meter you could tell builders you would only charge £10 a cubic meter and make some money!

giddy1 · 18/03/2007 21:18

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Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 21:23

Yes not far . For one horroble moment I thought you were my sister - that's just where she lives !

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giddy1 · 18/03/2007 21:32

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Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 21:33

phew!

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giddy1 · 18/03/2007 21:43

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edam · 18/03/2007 21:51

Zog, have you checked back through local records to find what the hole actually is? If it was to do with quarrying, surely that should have come up on the searches when you bought your house? Ask your local historial society. Check old land registry records. Go back through planning applications since WW2. Find out if the area you live in used to be somewhere where clay was extracted for making bricks or something.

I'd start with the council (planning might point you in the right direction, your survey and your local historical society.

HEIFER · 18/03/2007 21:57

my DH (Landscape architect/urban designer)

says

do not fill all the hole with just soil, it will sink too much..

Also could you use the void for any purpose as this could make the costs of roofing etc worthwhile..
ie storage, underground room/shelter?

Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 22:02

at your dh viewing my hole giddy1

Well, if he's ever around these parts, I'd be grateful for his input, so to speak.

edam, would that have any bearing on what I did with it, do you think? Nothing came up on the searches - my next door neighbour thought it had been a quarry.

Heifer, one of my friends suggested building a subterranean games room but it comes back round to what to put on top of it. Plus would I need planning permission for something like that?

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HEIFER · 18/03/2007 22:11

Re planning permission - almost certainly, well depends (decisive my DH)...

Would need an engineer (type person)to put roof on.. could technically be done.. althought not cheap but these days techniques well known.

He suggested a games room too..

He also says you should find out why the hole is there before you embark on project...

HEIFER · 18/03/2007 22:13

re games room - you could still have a lawn on top (or green roof as DH called it - as could be shrubs etc)

tubismybub · 18/03/2007 22:22

"well if he's ever around these parts i'd be greatful for his input" PMSL

Katymac · 18/03/2007 22:26

Have you been there long

Whether or not it fills up with water when it rains might have a bearing on what you do with it....tanking is really expensive

Original poster
Zog · 18/03/2007 22:37

phnar phnar

Ah, so a "green roof" wouldn't be out of the question then? What do they use for the roof?

What kind of engineer type person would I need? Are they horribly expensive?

Looks like I need to look into what caused it first of all.

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