Balfour Beatty : completes £63 million Rossall Coastal Defence Scheme

News listings

01 June 2018

The scheme forms part of the largest single investment in coastal flood defence by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today announces that it has successfully completed the £63 million Rossall coastal defence scheme for Wyre Council in partnership with the Environment Agency.

The scheme will protect the town's tramway, hospital and schools whilst reducing flood risk to 7,500 nearby residential properties through two kilometres of sea defences.

To successfully complete the Rossall project, over 10,000 specially manufactured precast concrete units were lifted into position, alongside 86,342 tonnes of rock underlayer and 241,000 tonnes of rock armour sourced from 12 quarries across the north of the UK.

The successful delivery of the scheme means the coastline now features a promenade lined with artwork and a poetry trail, as well as a new ecology park designed by British sculptor Stephen Broadbent. Known as Larkholme Grasslands, the park has been created on a Biological Heritage site which features rare species of flora and fauna. A lagoon area behind the new defences offers additional flood storage and a new habitat for rich and diverse wildlife.

Dean Banks, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive Officer for UK Construction Services, said: 'We are delighted that the local community and visitors to the Fylde coast can now fully experience the extensive benefits of the Rossall scheme, which will protect thousands of nearby properties from the risk of flooding and offer a captivating promenade for people of all ages to enjoy.

'The project's success is a testament to the skills and collaborative working relationship between the fully integrated delivery team, with Wyre Council and the Environment Agency.'

Sir James Bevan, Environment Agency chief executive, said: 'This is one of the biggest investments ever in a coastal flood scheme. It will reduce flood risk to 7,500 homes, create new green space and benefit the local economy, including by using locally sourced materials. It's a great example of partnership: by working together the Environment Agency, Wyre Council, our other partners and the local community have helped create an even better place for people and wildlife'.

Councillor Roger Berry, Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety Portfolio Holder at Wyre Council comments: 'I'd like to thank all our partners for helping us to deliver the new sea defences. The completed scheme will not only protect our residents, their homes and our businesses and infrastructure, but also has provided us with a visually stunning promenade for walkers and cyclists. Locals and visitors alike will be able to enjoy the magnificent coastline, whilst the grasslands will give a contrasting green and natural landscape.'

Throughout the project lifecycle, the scheme has provided 85 work opportunities for local people, as well as numerous engagement events with local schools. The project has placed great importance on earn and learn initiatives with eight members of the workforce completing NVQs, two graduates and three trainees.

The Rossall scheme forms part of the Fylde Peninsula Coastal Programme, encompassing the Fairhaven to Church Scar Coastal Protection Scheme in Lytham and the Anchorsholme Coastal Protection Scheme in Blackpool which was recently completed by Balfour Beatty.

Image: Rossall Coastal Defence Scheme

ENDS

Media enquiries to:
Antonia Walton
Balfour Beatty
+44 (0)207 963 2150
antonia.walton@balfourbeatty.com
www.balfourbeatty.com | follow us @balfourbeatty

All non-media related enquiries should be directed to +44 (0)20 7216 6800 or info@balfourbeatty.com

Notes to editors:

• Balfour Beatty (www.balfourbeatty.com) is a leading international infrastructure group. With 28,000 employees, we provide innovative and efficient infrastructure that underpins our daily lives, supports communities and enables economic growth. We finance, develop, build and maintain complex infrastructure such as transportation, power and utility systems, social and commercial buildings.
• Our main geographies are the UK & Ireland, US and Far East. Over the last 100 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world including the London Olympics' Aquatic Centre, Hong Kong's first Zero Carbon building, the National Museum of the Marine Corps in the US and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
• Balfour Beatty has a long and proud history working in the North and Midlands, delivering innovative infrastructure and build projects and supporting growth across the region. The company has proven expertise across multiple sectors including highways, education, flood & coastal defence, and of working with local authorities through the Scape National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework along with other regional and national frameworks.
• Our portfolio of current projects includes the delivery of two contracts for HS2 worth a combined total of c.£2.5billion, The University of Manchester's £287m Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD), representing one of the largest capital developments ever undertaken by a UK higher education institution, and sections of the Manchester Smart Motorways scheme for Highways England. We are also delivering an £85m automotive research facility for the University of Warwick in Coventry, and the New Cross Student Development in Manchester which will feature 274 student apartments.
• Completed projects include the £50m 'Diamond' building at the University of Sheffield, the £14m mechanical and electrical services for the new National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester and a £22.5m new teaching and lecture space at Sheffield Hallam University. Balfour Beatty has also recently completed the £27m Anchorsholme coastal defence scheme on behalf of Blackpool Council, and the Gateshead District Energy Centre, one of the North East region's first energy centres, which will generate and supply heat and power for homes, businesses and public buildings across Gateshead Town Centre.