United Kingdom
Helping deliver The Elizabeth Line with Crossrail
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Guy Walker
Project Director
Project overview
How can we update ageing infrastructure to address critical flood risk?
Great Yarmouth has a long history of tidal flooding, with coastal storms posing a significant risk to homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. As part of the Environment Agency’s long-term strategy to improve resilience, the Great Yarmouth Tidal Defences Epoch 2 project aimed to upgrade ageing assets and safeguard the town’s future.
Covering approximately 40 flood wall locations across a complex maritime environment, the major project included renovation, replacement and enhancement of flood protection systems to meet protection standards and extend asset life by 30-50 years. This involved raising wall heights, refurbishing existing structures, installing corrosion protection and constructing new flood walls.
Highlights
project story
Delivery through collaboration
Following early contractor involvement, the Environment Agency procured the design and construction works under an NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract (Option C), supporting a collaborative and transparent delivery model.
We played a central role across both the advisory and delivery phases, as project manager under the New Engineering Contract (NEC). Through robust governance and proactive contract administration, our team ensured effective coordination of a multi-disciplinary supply chain and 21 individual work packages.
With a structured and forward-looking approach to programme and commercial management, we delivered the following for the full lifecycle of the project:
- Proactive change control with scenario modelling across cost, programme and risk.
- Integrated design reviews and stakeholder workshops to maintain alignment.
- Clear performance monitoring and reporting to support timely decision-making.
- Active engagement with local authorities, asset owners and marine stakeholders.
This collaborative approach fostered strong team cohesion and enabled confident, informed decision-making throughout delivery, ensuring the project remained on programme and within budget despite the challenges of COVID-19 and a complex delivery environment.
Creating long-term value for communities, economy and environment
As part of a wider programme focusing on protecting 4,500 homes and businesses, economic growth, support for up to 34,000 jobs and contributing an estimated £1.5bn to the local economy, Great Yarmouth Epoch 2 contributed 4km of quayside defences. The scheme protects more than 2,115 homes and businesses.
Sustainability was embedded throughout delivery. By prioritising refurbishment over replacement and adopting innovative construction techniques, the project achieved major reductions in carbon emissions, reducing embodied carbon by approximately 65% compared to traditional approaches.
In total, the project saved over 18,900 tonnes of carbon. That’s the equivalent of charging more than 2 billion smartphones.
The project also trialled the use of hybrid power, combining a generator and battery to power the welfare facility for the final 10 months. This cut fuel use by 24,000 litres, preventing 65 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions
Through its scale, complexity and collaborative delivery model, Great Yarmouth Tidal Defences Epoch 2 stands as a leading example of how infrastructure programmes can successfully enhance resilience, drive economic growth and deliver sustainable outcomes for communities.
“Turner & Townsend were integral to the delivery of Great Yarmouth Epoch 2 project, embodying the collaborative working, one team ethos, whilst excelling at maintaining contractual and commercial discipline.”
Tom Stanley
Senior Project Manager
Environment Agency
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