Balfour Beatty today announces that it has been awarded a contract by the Waveney, Lower Yare & Lothingland Internal Drainage Board to deliver new flood and coastal defences near Benacre, south of Kessingland in Suffolk.

The contract, valued at £47 million, has been awarded through the SCAPE framework and on completion, will provide sustainable flood risk protection to the A12 road, Parkdean Holiday Park, 35 homes, 46 businesses and 600 hectares of valuable farmland.

The project will see Balfour Beatty replace the existing Benacre Pumping Station, which was originally built in 1955, but has now exceeded its lifespan and is at significant risk of coastal erosion. In addition, the company will construct a new embankment across the Lothingland Valley to manage tidal flooding as well as build an additional, smaller pumping station along the embankment to manage fluvial flooding.

An intertidal channel will also be created between the new embankment and the coastline, forming a new intertidal habitat area. This will help deliver 82 hectares of valuable habitat to support migratory and breeding farmland birds, waterfowl, and seabirds.

Balfour Beatty will utilise modular construction techniques to build the pumping station structures offsite in a controlled factory environment, so that the existing pumping station can continue to operate before being decommissioned and removed. This technique will also significantly reduce carbon emissions by minimising the number of lorry movements and material deliveries to and from site.

As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting, positive legacy in the communities in which it operates, the company has committed to hiring two local, ex-armed forces employees through Balfour Beatty’s Military Talent Pathway. The Pathway launched in 2022 to provide structured support for career changers with transferable skills, helping them transition into key roles within the company.

Peter Mumford, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Regional Civils business, said: “We are proud to be delivering this vital flood defence scheme which once complete will safeguard critical infrastructure, local communities, and the environment.

“Drawing on our extensive experience and expertise, we will deliver this scheme to the highest standard, providing long-term protection for the Suffolk coastline and the people who depend on it.”

Enabling works commenced in Spring 2025, with main construction due to begin later in the year and completion is planned for 2030.

Image: Aerial view showing proposed layouts of embankments, new river and breach