The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North West has recognized the Fairhaven to Church Scar scheme as Sustainability Project of the year.
The project, to protect over 2,400 properties from coastal erosion began work on site in 2018 after some years of project development and stretches from Fairhaven Lake to Church Scar promenade on Seafield Road.
The previous defenses were built in the late 1890s and were in a failing condition, requiring emergency repairs to be financed every year to prevent a breach and coastal erosion.
Further to Fylde Council securing a £21.4m grant investment from the Environment Agency, VBA (a joint venture between VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business) completed all the works under budget and ahead of the contract Completion Date of December 2020, re-opening the area to the public in July 2020.
The ICE explained that the scheme “is all about protecting properties and infrastructure from coastal erosion and flooding threat”.
A huge carbon saving was achieved, including 97% of the waste recycled or reused.