The £30 million Coastal Defence scheme, located in Camber, Kent, claimed both the Award for Best Infrastructure and the Brassey Award for Engineering Excellence in Kent and East Sussex, at the Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) South East England Award Ceremony.
The team behind the complex project received their awards at a glamorous reception at the Grand Brighton Hotel hosted by former Top Gear and Fifth Gear presenter Tiff Needell.
The £30M Broomhill Sands Coastal Defence Scheme directly protects 1,388 homes and over 100 businesses by increasing the standard of protection from 1 in 20 years to 1 in 200 years, allowing for predicted sea level rise. The improvements include 1.8km of rock revetment and new concrete wave wall, 700m beach recharge and replacement of timber groynes plus improvements to the existing promenade including access ramps and steps.
Led by the Environment Agency and with contractors engineering firms Team Van Oord, Mott MacDonald, CH2M and Arcadis, the scheme included a number of innovations, many of which are ‘firsts’ for the UK and some even for the construction industry.
The scheme was so successful that Broomhill Sands was highlighted in a Cabinet briefing as an example of best practice regarding value and the delivery of large efficiencies during construction.
Suzanne Moroney, Director of ICE South East England said: “We all know the importance of flood defence schemes to local communities. They protect homes, businesses and local economies ensuring residents can get on with their lives without disruption or damage to their property.
“The Broomhill Sands Coastal Defence Scheme is an exemplar of a successful, innovative coastal flood defence scheme, using the latest construction methods to provide the press protection to the region whilst delivering efficiency savings.
“The team should be incredibly proud of themselves. It is an achievement to win one award, but to win two is a truly significant accomplishment”.
Source: Institution of Civil Engineers
Photo: Environment Agency
Well deserved and the improvement to the promenade and access ramps are wonderful. My husband has difficulty walking and very rarely went to Camber, but we love going there now.