A significant part of the consolidation of soft clay fitted with vertical drains (or stone columns) occurs during a step by step embankment loading. In order to schedule the loading program, it is necessary to predict the settlement evolution during the construction process. A unit cell model, made up with one column surrounded by saturated soft clay overlaid by drained layer, is considered with oedometric conditions. An analytical poroelastic solution is derived that provides, in addition to the degree of radial consolidation and excess pore water pressure dissipation, the evolution with time of the reinforced soil settlement. The latter is predicted by introducing the concept of “equivalent membrane” assuming a uniform excess pore water pressure in the soft clay. The Barron's factor time of radial consolidation is also adopted that provides the determination of the permeability of this “equivalent membrane”. The results of the proposed method are illustrated as a function of the substitution factor.