Sloping garden in new build, should there be a retaining wall?

berrybum

Our new build house is nearing completion and we have now seen the garden. We knew there would be a bit of a slope but are concerned about the huge drop off at the back of the garage and also the lack of retaining wall beneath the fence. I worry that a downpour of rain would lead to us losing garden to next door. Should there be a wall beneath the fence? You can clearly see daylight through the bottom. For reference we are higher than our neighbours to the side and rear.

The bottom left of the garden gets the evening sun so we'd like to put a patio there but concerned about there not being a retaining wall on this side either.

Thanks for any advice!

RelievedSheff

No need for a retaining wall there. That is a fairly typical detail on a sloping new build site.

Of course if you want to level the garden at a later date then that would be for you to agree between you and the neighbour that shares the boundary.

berrybum

RelievedSheff said:

No need for a retaining wall there. That is a fairly typical detail on a sloping new build site.

Of course if you want to level the garden at a later date then that would be for you to agree between you and the neighbour that shares the boundary.

Thank you.  Even by the garage?  The drop is about 50cm
Thanks!

RelievedSheff

Yes even by the garage.

Any drop over 600mm needs a guard rail or fence. But a 500mm drop is fine unguarded.

ThisIsWeird

Properly compacted and lawned ground will not suffer any issues from that slope.

deannagone

I'd build the cost for some terracing and steps/retaining walls into my budget in the areas of the garden that need levelling out.  I had to do similar in my garden (not a new build, just a pain of a garden).  It now looks lovely and I get a lot of compliments on it.  Did all the work myself too. Slowly lol. I knew nothing of how to do it when I started but you learn lolol.