Esh Group win £650k contract to help secure Scarborough Borough’s coastal defences

Esh Group, the construction and building services firm, has won a two stage £650k contract for the construction of coastal defence works in the Borough of Scarborough.

The Runswick Bay scheme, on behalf of Scarborough Borough Council, involves the design and construction of coast protection works that will include the strengthening of the existing seawall and construction of a rock Armour stone fillet.

The project, undertaken by the company’s civils operation, Lumsden & Carroll, aims to reduce the risk of seawall failure and lower instability in the coastal slopes.

The works will also improve safety by decreasing the possibility of wave overtopping of the defences.

A key focus of the scheme will be the inclusion of environmental mitigation measures to encourage ecological colonisation of the new rock armour.

David Pratt, divisional director at Esh Group, commented: “This is an important and essential project for the preservation of part of North Yorkshire’s historic coastline as well as an exercise in helping and encouraging marine wildlife to thrive in the area.

“The team is currently busy at the design and build phase and is looking forward to starting construction in September.”

Esh Group’s design team is currently working on plans and designs with work due to commence in September 2017. The project is estimated to take six months to complete.

Cllr Mike Cockerill, Scarborough Borough Council cabinet member for project leadership, harbours coast and flood protection, said: “This is an environmentally sensitive construction project and essential to the protection of Runswick Bay.

“The Esh Group responded with a tender that was alert to environmental concerns and the potential risks being faced in the village. The planned solution reduces the risk of seawall failure, and amongst other things, reduces wave overtopping.”