The Environment Agency has awarded CH2M HILL the contract for the Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 Programme – the firm has been named as the delivery partner for the £300m flood defence programme.

The major tidal flood defence programme, valued at £300 million, represents the first 10 years of a 100 year programme developed by the Environment Agency to protect London and the Thames estuary from current and future tidal flooding through to 2100.

 The programme, which will operate under the name Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 (TEAM 2100), is one of the UK Government's top 40 national infrastructure projects and once underway will be one of the world's largest flood risk management programmes.

The contract involves the planning, programming, optimisation and delivery of investigation, design, capital maintenance, refurbishment and replacement works on the existing tidal flood defence assets along the entire 170km length of the Thames estuary.

The Thames estuary tidal flood defence system extends from Teddington in West London through to Sheerness and Shoeburyness in Kent and Essex, protecting 1.25 million people and £200 billion worth of property and is formed from over 3500 different assets, including the iconic Thames Barrier.

 CH2M HILL will be working alongside their delivery partner, Balfour Beatty and specialist suppliers including Critigen, Hunton Engineering Ltd, KGAL and Qualter Hall. An Integrated Delivery Team will be formed with the Environment Agency to deliver significant efficiencies over the 10 year programme. 

The Integrated Delivery Team will be working closely with stakeholders along the estuary to develop flood risk solutions that protect people, property and enhance the environment in London and the Thames estuary for future generations.

 Paul Leinster, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said:

“We are pleased to welcome CH2M HILL as our partner to deliver this vital programme of works to refurbish and update the current flood risk management systems along the Thames Estuary.”

The Thames Estuary Asset Management Programme will be made up of capital works, including:

• Major refurbishment works of fixed assets, such as 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, such as repairing long lengths or fixed flood defence walls or subsidence of earth embankments.

Commenting on the contract win CH2M HILL’s Managing Director for Europe, Mark Thurston, said:

"We are delighted to have been named delivery partner for the TEAM 2100 Programme. This project is a vital piece of infrastructure that fits closely with our other major programmes in London, including Thames Tideway Tunnel, Crossrail and High Speed 2. Not only will this programme help maintain London as a globally competitive city, it also provides a significant boost to the British engineering sector and the creation of long-term employment in the UK jobs market, with the project requiring skilled engineers throughout the planning, investigation, maintenance and refurbishment works of the next 10 years."

"CH2M HILL has extensive experience of working on the Thames estuary and has a strong relationship with the Environment Agency from its work on various flood defence framework contracts. CH2M HILL brings experience of managing some of the world's largest water projects, whilst Balfour Beatty brings leading flood and coastal risk construction expertise from its long term work in this field. Working as part of an integrated team with the Environment Agency, we look forward to managing this project and playing a vital role in maintaining and developing tidal flood defences in the Thames estuary for future generations."

Want to know more about similar schemes in England up to 2018 and beyond, together with estimated value and hundreds of key named contacts and win new business? Click here for more details on our industry-leading report Selling into the UK Flood Risk Management Sector in England 2013/14

Click here for more information on the upcoming Flood Defence and Prevention Expo and conference in London in December.