Balfour Beatty, an international infrastructure group, has been appointed as the civil contractor for an integrated team that will deliver the ten-year Thames Estuary Asset Management Program for CH2M Hill, on behalf of the Environment Agency, and anticipated to be worth up to £250 million to Balfour Beatty.
The £300 million program is the largest single flood risk asset management program ever awarded in the UK. It is designed to manage and deliver capital investment works to the Thames tidal flood defenses along the 170km length of the Thames Estuary, protecting 1.25 million people from flooding risk across Kent, Essex and London and £200 billion worth of property, UK government assets, major infrastructure and businesses.
The program will involve creating tidal walls and embankments, refurbishing works of active assets, (including major flood barriers), new assets such as pumping stations, capital renewals and replacements.
Packages of major or complex maintenance works will include repairing fixed flood defense walls or subsidence of earth embankments. CH2M Hill leads the program supported by delivery partner Balfour Beatty and a number of other specialist suppliers.
Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty’s Group Chief Executive, said: “ We look forward to being part of an integrated team that will deliver this vital program along the Thames Estuary. Balfour Beatty is bringing significant expertise in flood defense to protect one of the world’s greatest cities from the sea. And, with our partners we will offer long-term, skilled, opportunities to the next generation of civil engineers.”
Individual projects are expected to be awarded from the third quarter of this year with each expected to be worth up to £10 million in value.
Balfour Beatty’s recent track record in UK coastal protection and flood defense works includes 21 significant projects for local authorities and the Environment Agency, including the £86m Rossall and Anchorsholme Scheme, the £5m River Mersey Flood Defense Scheme, the £22m Humber Flood Prevention Package and the £6m Lincshore Beach Replenishment five year scheme.
Balfour Beatty is also carrying out the £1.2m Hightown Coastal Defenses Phase 2 scheme for Sefton Borough Council. Recently completed work includes the £9m Lyme Regis Coast Defense scheme and the £12m Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme.