Ground engineering specialist Geobear fixed a four-storey townhouse in Islington, north London, after it suffered severe structural damage caused by subsidence.
A site investigation at the 1960’s building, on Hamilton Park Street, found that the clay beneath the building had dried out and shrunk as deep as 5m below the basement. This, combined with poor drainage in the area, had weakened the ground and reduced its ability to support the property.
Craig Dean, residential director at Geobear, said that the damage, which included visible rotation, significant subsidence and separation from the neighbouring property, was caused by prolonged ground movement.
“Traditional underpinning with concrete would have required project permission delays, heavy excavation, noisy equipment and weeks of curing,” Dean said.
Instead, Geobear used a non-invasive ground stabilisation method using the company’s geopolymer resin injection system.
“The team improved the soil beneath the foundations and carefully lifted the building back into position,” Dean explained. “The entire process was completed in just nine days, a dramatic improvement over the nine to eleven weeks expected for [traditional] underpinning.”
Residents did not need to vacate the building during the works.
The townhouse’s owner, Lipa Friedman, called Geobear’s treatment “remarkable”.
“It stabilised our ground and achieved a 47mm lift in just nine days,” Friedman said. “The non-invasive approach meant minimal disruption to our property. The speed and precision of the work was impressive, and we’re delighted with the results.”
Homes across North London, particularly those built on soft clay soils, are increasingly affected by subsidence.
A recent data analysis by Geobear classified 2026 as a subsidence surge year.