Member Article

North East projects celebrated at prestigious awards success

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North East has highlighted projects from all across the region with accolades in this year’s prestigious Robert Stephenson Awards.

Projects in Belford, Hartlepool and Thornaby took the top three awards for 2015, with engineering work in Cramlington, Yarm, Barnard Castle and Gateshead receiving commendations.

The awards were presented by Professor David Balmforth, the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), at the ICE North East’s annual dinner.

The Small Projects category was won by the Environment Agency, alongside contractor AMCO and researchers at Newcastle University for the Belford Natural Flood Management Scheme, in Northumberland. Commended in this category was the Megstone Avenue Flood Alleviation Scheme, in Cramlington, as well as the Yarm Public Realm Works.

In the Medium Projects Category, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, contractor Balfour Beatty and consultant Atkins were the winners, for the Thornaby Footbridge project. A commendation was presented to the Barnard Castle Weir Replacement.

Winner of the Large Projects Category was the Environment Agency, along with consultant Halcrow HC2M Mill, contractor Balfour Beatty and site supervisors Arup, for the Greatham Managed Realignment: creation of the Saltern Wetlands, on the Tees Estuary, Hartlepool. A commendation went to the Blaydon Regeneration in Gateshead.

The awards judges were full of praise for the winning and commended projects.

Small Projects category:

WINNER: Belford Natural Flood Management Scheme, Northumberland

Client: Environment Agency

Research organisation: Newcastle University

Contractor: AMCO

Phase 2 designer: Environment Agency

Judges said “An excellent example of collaboration between academia and the statutory bodies to develop a new approach for managing flood risk. The outcome being a cost effective, environmentally sustainable, simple, flexible solution utilising ‘low technology’ that blends with the rural setting. The scheme has achieved both national and international recognition via the technical press and public media, whilst providing long-term benefits to the local community.”

COMMENDED: Megstone Avenue Flood Alleviation Scheme, Cramlington

Client: Northumbrian Water Ltd

Consultant: Amec Foster Wheeler

Contractor: Seymour (Civil Engineering Contractors) Ltd

Others: Turner and Townsend

Judges said “The project which is a fine example of collaboration between all parties, has brought huge community benefits by using innovative and cost effective ‘retrofitted SUDs’ design solution. The value engineering exercise ensured a cost beneficial outcome and accident free scheme, delivered within budget and programme. Extensive community consultation ensured essential ‘buy-in’, as well as educating the cause of the flooding due to urban creep.”

COMMENDED: Yarm Public Realm Works, Yarm

Client: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Consultant: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Contractor: Balfour Beatty

Judges said “Extensive pre-contract stakeholder consultation ensured the success of this politically sensitive scheme. It has achieved a high quality finish within extremely tight timescale in a busy central location. Understanding and respecting the history of the site was crucial in delivering this scheme as well as the engagement with the local community which helped improve public perception of the importance of the scheme.”

Medium Projects category:

WINNER

Thornaby Footbridge, Thornaby

Client: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Consultant: Atkins

Contractor: Balfour Beatty

Judges said “An impressive project in which a close knit, quality based Partnering Team developed a scheme which met immovable deadlines yet was sympathetic to both residents and the built environment. Innovative design and construction solutions enabled the scheme to be delivered safely, on time and under budget.”

COMMENDED

Barnard Castle Weir Replacement, County Durham

Client: Environment Agency

Consultant: GHA Livigunn

Contractor: Volker Stevin

Judges said “An excellent project wherea close working framework team helped deliver the scheme by providing innovative solutions and brave decisions in a challenging and sensitive environment. The high tolerance works involved extensive community involvement and was successfully delivered safely and within budget.”

Large Projects category:

WINNER

Greatham Managed Realignment: creation of The Saltern Wetlands, Tees Estuary, Hartlepool

Client: The Environment Agency

Consultant: Halcrow CH2M Hill

Contractor: Balfour Beatty

Site supervision and ECC: Arup

Judges said: “An excellent project which was part of the Tees Tidal Flood Risk Management Strategy. The project provided compensation wetlands which enabled the construction of other coastal defence and protection schemes. The project took account of a many specialist stakeholder organisations, including an archaeological watching brief uncovered Neolithic remains which were presented in a public exhibition. As part of the Tees Tidal Flood Risk Management Strategy, the project was needed to allow the coastal defence and other flood alleviation works to proceed. The schemes that proceeded as a result of the development of this wetland area will secure the coast of Teesside, its people and its industry for many years. The local community and many technical and specialist stakeholders all worked on the project and over 200 people attended the opening. A competition to name the project resulted in the Saltern Wetlands, combining the historic reference to the brine wells with the new wetland landscape.”

COMMENDED FOR THE CONTRIBUTION TO A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT

Blaydon Regeneration, Gateshead

Client: Rockspring PIM (LLP)

Consultant: Cundall

Contractor: Bowmer and Kirkland

Others: EC Harris, AXIOM Project Services Ltd, Watson Batty Architects Ltd, Comprehensive Design Architects, E3 Ecology, Southern Green, Gateshead Council and Knight Frank

Judges said “The project development, which centred around the construction of a new supermarket, allowed the replacement of both the existing medical health and youth centres whilst improving access to the town centre, provided a much-needed facelift for outdated retail outlets and the invigoration of a public space for the benefit of all users.”

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