A joint venture (JV) between VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins is due to begin working on the first phase of a £10m flood defence project in Morecambe.

The VBA JV is the main contractor for the project to replace Morecambe's wave reflection wall.

The 1980's structure protects approximately 12,000 properties from flooding.

The scheme will see VolkerStevin's sister company, VolkerBrooks, working on casting for the wall.

The project is to take place in three stages, with the first phases seeing the replacement of 1,800 metres of the wall on Marine Road East between Lord Street and Happy Mount Park including new surfacing, seating and lighting.

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Future phases are to focus on the Marine Road West area from the Midland Hotel to the Battery and the Sandylands Promenade area.

With phase one due to be completed by spring 2017, the project is anticipated to take up to six years.

The project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and Lancaster City Council.

Mark Gardner, framework director for VBA, said: "The project will bring an important and timely replacement to the wave reflection wall and also improve the quality and appearance of the promenade for all."

Ian White, general manager for VolkerBrooks, said: "As a local contractor, we are really pleased to be working on this very important project for Morecambe Bay. We'll be casting for six months for the first phase and producing more than 700 precast concrete units for the wall itself so it is a large scale contract."

(LM/CD)