A coastal protection scheme in a village near Whitby has been shortlisted for a prestigious civil engineering award.
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has announced Runswick Bay Coastal Protection Scheme has been shortlisted for recognition in its 2019 Yorkshire and Humber Awards.
Runswick Bay was designated as a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) in January 2016, and the Coastal Protection Scheme offers an enhanced standard of protection against coastal
erosion to over 100 properties, including 6 listed buildings and infrastructure such as roads and utilities, for the next century.
Michael Sherrard, senior project manager at Esh Construction, who worked alongside Scarborough Borough Council, JBA Consulting, Royal HaskoningDHV, Environment Agency, Runswick Bay Coastal Protection Trust, Yorkshire Water on the project, said: ““The design and build contract delivered on Scarborough Borough Council’s commitment to delivering coastal defence in a way that not only protects homes and community but works alongside and enhances the diverse natural environment the Yorkshire coastline is famed for.
“Over 100 innovative rock pools have been created within the new rock armour stone defence along with a multitude of habitat friendly grooves. Considerate placement of armour stone and use of natural seed rock has proved fruitful in rapidly colonising the newly constructed defence. The support of the local community and councillors has been outstanding throughout the project.
“We are delighted that such a unique civil engineering project has been shortlisted.”
The project is one of five projects from across the region to be shortlisted for the Smeaton Award, alongside Standedge Tunnel End Aqueduct Reconstruction and Knostrop Footbridge.
The awards are held annually to showcase the outstanding work done during the past year by civil engineers in the Yorkshire and Humber Region. They are divided into three categories; projects with a cost in excess of £5m will compete for the Centenary Award, those under £5m can apply for the Smeaton Award, and those concerned with studies and research can compete for the Sir John Fowler Award.
In 2018 the Smeaton Award was won by the Tadcaster Bridge emergency works.
This year’s winners will be revealed at the ICE’s annual black-tie gala dinner at Sheffield City Hall on March 15.
Penny Marshall, the ICE’s regional director for Yorkshire and Humber said: “The standards of entries we have seen this year is exceptionally high and the judges now have a very difficult task ahead of them.
“There are thousands of civil engineers in Yorkshire and Humber that work tirelessly to design, improve and maintain the infrastructure that we rely on, and these awards are a great opportunity to highlight the positive impact their work has on our lives.”