Granular flow is modelled under the following conditions: Steady-state uniform turbulent open-channel solid–liquid flow carrying combined load at high solids concentration above a plane mobile bed. In the combined load, a portion of transported particles is transported as collisional bed load and the rest as suspended load supported by carrier turbulence. In our modelling approach, we consider one-dimensional flow and take into account a layered structure of the flow with the intense combined load. Principles of kinetic theory of granular flow are employed together with the mixing-length theory of flow turbulence in order to predict distributions of solids concentration and velocity in sediment-water flow of the given flow depth and longitudinal slope in an open channel. Components of the model are tested and calibrated by results of our laboratory experiments with lightweight sediment in a recirculating tilting flume.