General builder, landscape gardener or bricklayer?

[hotcookie]

We are soon hoping to do a rear extension which will mean we need to dig out part of our sloping rear garden back about 3m (its around 4m wide) and build a new retaining wall to 3 sides. We know we will need a structural engineer to design the wall (will be above 1m high), and our builder for the extension is going to quote but did state they don't often do that sort of work. If we want to get more quotes who should we be approaching? And does anyone have rough ideas of what we should be expecting to pay for this amount of work? We are in north essex.

I'd be asking more builders. Not sure if you'll find that many super experienced at building on slopes unless they come from a very hilly area.

Thanks,
There won't be any building actually on a slope though-the back yard is flat which is where the extension will be built, but we need to dig out some of the garden to create a new back yard, so our extension doesn't just look out onto wall. We are probably just looking for quotes to dig out the garden and build new retaining wall there, not actually doing anything for the house/extension.

Builders know how to approach slopes OP. It's a common issue they encounter.

My dp is a builder (bricklayer by trade) and does that sort of thing. I think you just need to ask more builders to see if they have any experience/are willing to do the work.

We did similar when we built our extension. The builder did it all and quoted for it as part of the job. Your builder sounds rubbish if he is not prepared to do that. Sorry.

Agree that the builder should be able to do that, even if they don't normally do that sort of thing - not too difficult! Our builder is currently doing similar, levelling off the garden and putting in retaining wall and sleepers. Easier for them to level off the earth whilst digging the foundations in terms of equip and access.

They are prepared to do it, and will quote for it, but I was thinking of getting quotes for this part of the build separately

I think you should get quotes from several builders for the whole job. You might be able to get a structural engineer who will hold the builder’s hand but the drawings should be clear from the Structural Engineer. You need to get the design done so you can get building quotes. If this builder is unsure, I would worry about them interpreting drawings accurately. How can they quote accurately either? Retaining walls are expensive! You cannot afford for it to go wrong though.