Balfour Beatty has been appointed civil contractor to deliver the 10-year Thames Estuary Asset Management Programme for CH2M Hill, on behalf of the Environment Agency

The £300m programme is the largest single flood risk asset management programme ever awarded in the UK and is designed to deliver capital investment works to the Thames tidal flood defences along the 170km length of the Thames Estuary.

The work will protect 1.25m people from flooding risk across Kent, Essex and London and £200bn worth of property, UK government assets, infrastructure and businesses.


The project will involve the construction of tidal walls and embankments, refurbishing works of active assets, new assets such as pumping stations, capital renewals and replacements.

CH2M Hill leads the programme supported by Balfour Beatty and a number of other specialist suppliers.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty's Group Chief Executive, said: "We look forward to being part of an integrated team that will deliver this vital programme along the Thames Estuary.

"Balfour Beatty is bringing significant expertise in flood defence to protect one of the world's greatest cities from the sea. And, with our partners we will offer long-term, skilled, opportunities to the next generation of civil engineers."

(IT/JP)