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Restoring a saltmarsh habitat to protect homes, infrastructure, and the environment for the benefit of the climate and communities

At a Glance

  • 80Ha

    Intertidal Saltmarsh

  • 4.5M

    Flood Embankments

  • 10

    m3/s Pump Capacity

Location
Suffolk, United Kingdom
Offices

Benacre and Kessingland Managed Realignment Scheme

Erosion of the coastal flood defence along the Benacre and Kessingland shorelines had made it difficult to maintain. This threatened homes, businesses, farmland, and key infrastructure including the A12 regional transport route. The Environment Agency and the Waveney, Lower Yare, and Lothingland Internal Drainage Board knew it was time to act. They reached out through the SCAPE Consultancy Framework to our team, a Perfect Circle Preferred Supply Partner.

We delivered a detailed design for this flood risk management and intertidal habitat creation project on the Suffolk Coast. Our scope included the surveys, investigations, and consent work required to create new coastal flood defences and a major new pumping station. Our design creates an area of intertidal saltmarsh habitat to help sequester carbon, mitigate the effects of climate change, encourage biodiversity, and provide social value for local communities. We are continuing to support the project into construction.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, many UK saltmarshes were drained and converted to agricultural and development land. It’s estimated that 85 percent of saltmarsh has been lost since the mid-1800s. Restoring these crucial ecological environments contributes towards coastal protection by dampening waves, reducing storm surges, and reducing coastal erosion.

When complete, the restored saltmarsh will protect critical freshwater resources and create a safe national coastal footpath route benefitting communities, wildlife, tourism, and the local economy.

At a Glance

  • 80Ha

    Intertidal Saltmarsh

  • 4.5M

    Flood Embankments

  • 10

    m3/s Pump Capacity

Location
Suffolk, United Kingdom
Offices

Meet Our Team

Simon Darch, Director, Cambridge

Our innovative solutions must leave a lasting and sustainable legacy in the environments and communities that we cherish.

Simon Darch

Director, Cambridge

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