Subscribe to our Construction Newsfeed
UK Construction Directory
Search our 157,433 companies....

Construction News

27/11/2023

New Bubble Technology Protects Salmon During Tyneside Dock Redevelopment Nets An International Gold Award

Construction News Image
The creation of a new river wall as part of the £20 million Tyne docklands redevelopment is nearing completion with the work supported by an innovative new technology that protects marine and river life.

The River Tyne is the UK's most important river for Atlantic salmon and was singled out by the Environment Agency in 2019 as the only river in England in which the salmon population is not at risk of falling below sustainable levels.

A bubble curtain the length of a football pitch – 91 m – was placed around the work to limit the underwater noise to meet environmental regulations. This enabled contractor John F Hunt Regeneration to continue work without affecting the salmon migration. The technology was provided by Frog Environmental. Its deployment for noise reduction during piling – driving cylindrical steel or concrete pile foundations deep into the ground – is a UK first and has earned the project an International Gold Green Apple Environment Award for Environmental Best Practice.

Frog Environmental Technical Director Leela O’Dea said: "Up until now, the only responsible way to structure project work during salmon migration seasons was to carefully plan your works to avoid this period. From March until November, it was not an option to carry out piling work for up to seven hours a day, so depending on what time those tides fell, whole working days could be lost. By using this bubble curtain, the noise of the work is significantly dampened and reduced, so the salmon aren't stressed, or worse yet, killed as a consequence. In effect, it becomes background noise. This allows work to continue even during formerly limited periods."
-- Advertisement --
hss



A bubble curtain is a simple yet innovative solution to help with water quality and environmental protection. Made of a linear perforated hose, which is operated by a small air compressor, it creates a constant flow of bubbles across the entire body of water, which can be used for aeration and can act as a barrier around an area or to contain a pollutant.

Water-based construction projects can benefit from the bubble curtain’s ability to reduce underwater noise pollution or silt movement. The curtain can be used for environmental initiatives, such as aeration, or to create bubble barriers to prevent oil spills, litter or algae or for deflecting jellyfish and fish from areas.

It can be used in both freshwater and marine environments for temporary works or as permanent infrastructure. It lies dormant on the floor of the waterbody until it needs to be activated.

John F Hunt Regeneration Manager for Marine and Civils Dave McLaren said: "We couldn't believe the results. There was a staggering 99% reduction in noise from the impact piling when the curtain was in operation – well below the danger level for salmon. We used it last year and it has saved us tens of thousands of pounds and sped up our timeframe for completion by a full week. We’ll definitely be using it again on other projects."

According to South Tyneside Council, the Holborn area has been largely derelict for years, and the remediation of disused drydocks at East Holborn and conversion into a riverside quarter for living and working is part of a larger mixed-use development. Along with the new quay wall and the restoration of three derelict docks, the site will be regraded to protect against flooding and remediated to deal with past industrial contamination, to turn former industrial land into a desirable location for residents and visitors.

The council estimates the scheme will be finished in spring 2024, although John F Hunt Regeneration will complete the new quay wall by the end of this year.

www.frogenvironmental.co.uk

Latest Construction News

02/07/2025
Construction is officially underway on the new Whitefield Community Fire Station, part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's (GMFRS) £38 million Estates Improvement Programme. Led by Robertson Construction North West, the project will replace the former fire station on Bury New Road with
02/07/2025
Hull City Council has officially appointed Esh Construction to lead a major repair and strengthening programme on Drypool Bridge, one of the city's key transport links. The project will be delivered in partnership with engineering consultancy Mason Clark Associates. Work will begin on the south s
02/07/2025
Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has announced record financial results for the year ending 31 March 2025, marking its second consecutive year of historic growth. The company reported a turnover of £1.15 billion and a pre-tax profit of £90.5 million, completing more than 2,800 new homes a
02/07/2025
Women in Construction Anglia (WICA) and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce have voiced strong support for the government's new plans to increase the construction workforce by 100,000 people annually. The announcement follows the launch of the first Construction Skills Mission Board, attended by Work and P
02/07/2025
Huddersfield Station will undergo a significant upgrade this autumn as part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), with a full 30-day closure scheduled from Saturday 30 August to Sunday 28 September 2025. The closure represents a major milestone in the delivery of a faster, gr
02/07/2025
Procurement Hub, part of Places for People (PfP), has confirmed a two-year extension of its flagship Major Projects Framework 2 (MPF2), extending its term until 2028 after achieving more than £300 million in social value since its launch in 2022. Designed to deliver a more efficient, equitable, and
02/07/2025
Two Galliford Try employees have received commendations at this year's British Ex-Forces in Business Awards, recognising their outstanding contributions and leadership within the construction industry after transitioning from military service. Pam McNeill, Business Assurance Manager for Galliford T
02/07/2025
The government has announced a landmark £39 billion investment to deliver around 300,000 new social and affordable homes across the UK over the next decade, in a major bid to tackle the housing crisis and provide secure housing for families and children stuck in temporary accommodation. Under the n
02/07/2025
Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is one of the most dangerous gases found in industrial environments. Colourless, highly toxic, and often referred to as the "silent killer", it's particularly hazardous because it can quickly deaden the sense of smell, giving workers a false sense of security. Even a
02/07/2025
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the Construction Leadership Council's (CLC) new Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy, describing it as a much-needed step toward driving change across the construction industry. FMB Chief Executive Brian Berry joined over 140 industry leaders at
Lakeside HireEfco UK LtdStuart CanvasAqua Direct LtdBRICOFLOR Sustainable FlooringAbacus Garage Door Solutions LtdSerene StoneOil Water Stop LimitedLessabled Living LtdGrampian Steel Buildings Ltd