Balfour Beatty has today announced it has been appointed as the civil contractor for an integrated team that will deliver the ten-year Thames Estuary Asset Management Programme for CH2M Hill on behalf of the Environment Agency.

The contract is anticipated to be worth up to £250 million to the international infrastructure group, adding to Balfour Beatty’s recent track record in UK coastal protection and flood defence works which includes 21 significant projects for local authorities and the Environment Agency

The £300 million programme is the largest single flood risk asset management programme ever awarded in the UK. It is designed to manage and deliver capital investment works to the Thames tidal flood defences 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 programme 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 defence walls or subsidence of earth embankments. CH2M Hill leads the programme 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 programme along the Thames Estuary. Balfour Beatty is bringing significant expertise in flood defence 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.

The programme is funded by a combination of a £250million Flood Defence Grant in Aid contribution and £50million which is being raised by CH2M Hill. 

 Balfour Beatty’s recent track record in UK coastal protection and flood defence works includes 21 significant projects for local authorities and the Environment Agency, including:

• £86m Rossall and Anchorsholme Scheme
• £5m River Mersey Flood Defence Scheme
• £22m Humber Flood Prevention Package
• £6m Lincshore Beach Replenishment five year scheme.

Balfour Beatty is also carrying out the £1.2m Hightown Coastal Defences Phase 2 scheme for Sefton Borough Council. Recently completed work includes the £9m Lyme Regis Coast Defence scheme and the £12m Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme.