Since commencing works on Thanet District Council’s Coastal Zone Maintenance Contract in January 2025, we have undertaken a wide-ranging programme of activity. Set up as a three-year contract with the option to extend for a further two, it is a platform for delivering consistent, responsive and high-quality outcomes across a diverse estate of coastal and public assets.
While focused on coastal zone maintenance, we are also supporting multiple teams across the council, including asset management, beach and coastal services, open spaces, parking, parks and cemeteries, as well as the Port of Ramsgate itself. To date, 117 individual jobs have been completed, ranging from small reactive works to complex schemes.
One of the defining features of the contract has been the breadth of work delivered. At one end of the scale, we undertook a significant demolition project at the Port of Ramsgate, removing a former departure lounge due to its condition and the presence of asbestos. The need for rapid mobilisation, careful risk management and specialist treatment required close coordination with our supply chain, drawing on long-standing experience of managing specialist sub-contractors to deliver a safe and timely outcome.
At the other end of the spectrum, the contract has enabled a range of refurbishment and improvement works that enhance existing assets. This has included repairing three coastal shelters and refurbishment works to the Broadstairs Clock Tower, helping to preserve valued local features while improving their condition and longevity. These projects, though smaller in scale, play an important role in maintaining the quality of public spaces.
A particularly notable piece of work has been the refurbishment of the brickwork at the entrance of the Ramsgate Tunnels, a structure that holds significant pride within the local community. The works required highly skilled traditional brickwork, including the use of reclaimed materials and bespoke squint bricks cut to precise angles to suit the tunnel’s non-standard geometry. Delivered in a live, operational environment along a busy and protected esplanade, the project demonstrated the care, craftsmanship and coordination needed when working within sensitive and high-profile locations.
Alongside the physical works, the contract has also created an opportunity to invest in people. To support the growing workload, we have employed five local individuals new to the industry, providing training that equips them with skills applicable not only to coastal maintenance but across our wider civil engineering and rail operations. This approach reflects a commitment to building long-term capability in the areas where we work, while maintaining the flexibility to deliver projects across different regions and sectors.
The contract has also highlighted the value of offering a genuinely multi-disciplinary service. By combining strong self-delivery with effective supply chain management, we have been able to respond quickly to varied requirements while maintaining consistency in standards and ways of working. For the client, this has meant fewer interfaces to manage, clearer accountability and a more streamlined route to delivery across a wide range of asset types.
As the Coastal Zone Maintenance contract continues, it stands as a clear example of how adaptable, values-driven delivery can support public sector clients more effectively. By combining technical capability, specialist skills, local investment and collaborative working, we are helping Thanet District Council maintain, improve and protect key coastal and community assets in East Kent.