Posted on July 28, 2016
The £30m sea defence in Camber was described as ‘successful’ and ‘innovative’ after it claimed two prestigious engineering awards.
The Broomhill Sands Coastal Defence Scheme opened in May after two years of construction to provide better protection to the village and surrounding area.
It won 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.
ICE South East England director Suzanne Moroney said: “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.”
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 scheme should protect 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 team have reported more than £8.9m of efficiencies and was highlighted in a government cabinet briefing as an example of best practice regarding value during construction.
The ICE South East England Engineering Awards celebrate the very best civil engineering in the region.
At the awards ceremony, ICE president and National Infrastructure Commissioner Sir John Armitt presented the awards to recipients and gave a key note speech on the importance of infrastructure investment in the region.
Source: Rye and Battle Observer
