The £36 million Clacton and Holland-on-Sea coast protection scheme in Essex, UK, has been completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Mott MacDonald designed and managed the project on behalf of Tendring District Council.
Stretching 5km along Essex’s coastline, the project will protect over 3,000 homes and businesses for the next 100 years. It features 22 rock fishtail groyne structures, a terminal groyne and included 950,000 cubic metres of sand and shingle beach recharge. 23 new beaches have been created as a result of the scheme and it is hoped that it will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the towns’ seafront areas.
Mott MacDonald worked closely with Tendring District Council, Essex County Council, Anglian Water and the Environment Agency to deliver the detailed design and project appraisal report. This included numerical modelling for wave conditions and sediment movement, advising on planning consent and marine licence, ground investigation procurement and supervision, stakeholder engagement and environmental assessments, as well as obtaining third-party funding.
Peter Phipps, Mott MacDonald’s head of geomorphology and coastal management, said: “To complete this project in less than 18 months and under budget is a fantastic achievement and a measure of the hard work and effort of the different parties involved. This scheme will become a great example of our extensive expertise in producing viable, affordable and sustainable solutions at once vulnerable coastlines.”
A commemorative rock was unveiled in Clacton by Emma Howard-Boyd, deputy chairman of the Environment Agency, Neil Stock, leader of Tendring District Council and David Finch, leader of Essex County Council, to mark the official opening of the scheme.