Civil engineering projects ‘in the wild’ sometimes involve working in or near environmentally-sensitive areas and SSSI Impact Risk Areas. Rightly, environmental concerns and requirements take precedence, which places significant constraints on the way projects are designed and delivered.
Because of the many projects we’ve delivered in coastal and marine environments, we’re well used to working within these constraints and protocols. It’s why, for example, we use bio hydraulic oil in all of our plant and machinery. It’s a requirement for working in Environment Agency regulated sites and it makes sense for us to use it as a standard across the business.
Suttle Projects has delivered multiple hydro power schemes alongside environment-enhancing features such as new fish passes. While delivering long-term environmental benefits it’s just as important to minimise the impact when work is carried out.
This can involve creative problem solving and close collaboration with the Environment Agency and other stakeholders.
Protecting Marine Life
Hamworthy Park is a much loved local space, offering views across Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island, Arne and the Purbeck Hills.
Suttle Projects was chosen to carry out works to improve the seawall because of our extensive history in coastal and marine projects, and previous experience working within SSSIs. The works we carried out were to strengthen a 200m section of the Eastern seawall ensuring it continues to protect the promenade from coastal erosion for the next 20 years.
Examples of working practices aimed at avoiding environmental harm include timing concrete pours to coincide with the receding tide to allow maximum curing time. The shutters were also lined with foam to prevent concrete washout into the sea, which could endanger marine life.
Environmental Improvements
Civil engineering projects also have the capacity to enhance the environment. The Moors at Arne project aims to adapt 150 hectares of land into a diverse wetland habitat.
Because the site is within an SSSI, this is a collaborative project between the Environment Agency, RSPB and Natural England. It will provide a substantial wetland habitat and protect property to the East of Poole harbour from flooding.
The specific area that we worked on is the Furzebrook culvert, created to help drain the water from the floodplain. Knowledge of the standards and requirements for working in such a sensitive environment helped the project proceed smoothly despite the many constraints.
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