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

Benacre and Kessingland Managed Realignment Scheme

Erosion of the coastal flood defense 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 local drainage board engaged our team to deliver a detailed design for this flood risk management and intertidal habitat creation project on the Suffolk Coast. They selected us through the SCAPE Consultancy Framework, under which we are a Perfect Circle Preferred Supply Partner.

Our scope included the detailed design, surveys, investigations, and consent work required to create new coastal flood defenses and a major new pumping station. Our design creates an 80-hectare (197-acre) 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 implemented Dutch-designed fish-friendly encapsulated Archimedes’ screw pumps into the terminal pump station within the coastal defense. This will help safeguard freshwater fish species and promote passage and reduce harm to migratory species such as eels. The highly-efficient pump technology reduces whole life costs and significantly reduces operational carbon. We are continuing to offer support into the construction phase.

Since the 1700s and 1800s, around 85 percent of UK saltmarshes have been lost to agriculture and development. Restoring them helps protect coasts by reducing waves, storm surges, and erosion. The restored saltmarsh will protect critical freshwater resources and create a safe national coastal footpath route benefitting communities, wildlife, tourism, and the local economy.