Author: ASEA Team

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ASEA young star wins top industry award

Sophie carrying out work on-site

ASEA young star wins top industry award

Young engineering star Sophie Rice has won the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award at the New Civil Engineer (NCE) Graduate and Apprentice Awards 2022. Sophie has worked as an apprentice on the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence project.

Sophie, who is an apprentice with ASEA project contractor BAM Nuttall, part of the BMMjv with Mott MacDonald, is studying at the Leeds College of Building to get her Level 4 HNC in construction as a civil engineer. She has also been working on the ASEA project site with the team throughout the past year as part of the Bam Nuttall apprenticeship programme.

The NCE awards highlight the best rising talent in civil engineering. Sophie won largely because of her drive to address gender imbalance in the industry. As a STEM ambassador at BMMjv, Sophie has worked hard to get out of the office and deliver talks to young people, especially girls, encouraging them to consider careers in the industry.

Sophie, who has now returned to college for her final term, said: “The percentage of female students in STEM subjects is low, and you’re not going to get more women in the industry if there aren’t the students. Although employment needs to be targeted, it needs to be approached from the studying level.”

Ray Jones, ASEA Construction Contracts Manager for BMMjv said: “It’s great to see young stars like Sophie get recognition for their brilliant work in the industry. We have really enjoyed having Sophie on site this past year, and her contribution to the project has been fantastic. This win for her is well deserved, and we wish Sophie all the best for her future career”.

 You can watch Sophie talk about her exciting work here.

Sophie at the Institute of Civil Engineers in London
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ASEA site team raise money for local children’s hospice charity

ASEA site team raise money for local children’s hospice charity

Our project contractor BMMjv has pulled together to raise £1284 for the local Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home charity, which works to provide care and support to those children and their families who suffer with life limiting and life-threatening conditions. Their aim is to ensure that all children have the best quality of life possible and have the ability to be in their own homes with their families.

Our site workers raised the money for the cause through a variety of wellbeing events, which included sponsored weight loss, the sponsored BAMathaon steps challenge and general donations from the team. We were able to celebrate these efforts combined with the invaluable work of those at the charity on the BAM Worldwide Wellbeing and Safety Day, where we invited along a representative from Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home charity who received the money on their behalf.  

Lindsey Horton, the charities Corporate Partnerships Officer, said: “How can we thank you all enough for your fundraising and your incredible support over the last year? Our families can’t thank you themselves, but I can, so on behalf of our children, nurses and the fundraising team, thank you! You’re incredible.”

We are thrilled to be able to raise money for such a wonderful cause and would like to thank those at the Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home charity for their brilliance and continued work.

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ASEA Project Contractors Awarded Top Marks from Considerate Constructors Scheme

ASEA Project Contractors Awarded Top Marks from Considerate Constructors Scheme

Our contractors BAM Nuttall Mott MacDonald JV (BMMJV) have received the maximum marks possible against the listed criteria from the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) after the scheme’s independent monitors assessed the site and team.  

The aim of the scheme is to raise standards and build public trust in the construction industry. The scheme employs independent monitors across the UK, drawn from senior levels of the various disciplines within the industry. These monitors are trained in monitoring sites against the Scheme’s Site Code of Considerate Practice, to highlight areas where improvements are considered necessary and to encourage best practice beyond standard industry requirements.  

The Considerate Constructors Scheme report examined the activities of the ASEA project team and the main compound site in Avonmouth against its checklist. It found that BMMJV presented a highly professional appearance to the surrounding neighbours and general public, with consistent site processes.  

The CCS report particularly singled out for praise the team’s positive engagement with the local community and our strong relationships alongside active interaction with many groups contained within the area.  

The CCS commended the whole ASEA team for developing clear and concise environmental and sustainability procedures and processes. It noted that a number of natural environment and ecological enhancements will be in place upon completion of the project. You can read more about these here.  

The CCS monitors found well considered H&S procedures and auditing, training programmes and occupational health support were all in place.  

Tony Bajjada, ASEA Public Liaison Officer & Stakeholder Manager from BMMJV, said: “It is always good to receive positive feedback and this high score is a recognition of the attitude within the whole BMMJV workforce, who have a commitment to meet the very highest levels of industry best practice and the aims of the scheme through personal and corporate culture.”

The report said: “It is clear that the whole BMMJV project team are highly committed to the CCS Code of Conduct and this exemplified by the consistent high scoring against the scheme’s scoring criteria that the project has achieved during this site visit.” 

Colin Taylor, Senior Flood & Coastal Risk Management Advisor at one of the project partners; Environment Agency, said: “This is a great achievement by BMMJV. It’s really unusual for a contractor to get full marks and this independent review of how our contractors interact with the community shows they are doing very well.” 

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“There’s something to interest everybody” – graduates and students on their ASEA experience

"There's something to interest everybody" - graduates and students on their ASEA experience

Are you currently at university and thinking about your future career options? We’ve been talking to more of the graduate trainees and civil engineering students who have been gaining invaluable engineering experience on the ASEA project. Watch the short videos below to hear about their experiences and how they have learnt important skills that they will use in their chosen careers. Hear about their exciting experiences and career paths in our series of short videos. You can find out more about apprentice and graduate programmes with The Environment Agency here and our contractors BAM Nuttall here. Click here to read more about the ICE QUEST Scholarship programme.

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Helping Spruce Up the Severn: Litter Pick

Helping Spruce Up the Severn: Litter Pick

Members of our project team were delighted to take part in a community litter pick on 24th September at Severn Beach in South Gloucestershire. Thirty five people, including Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council chairman Alderman Peter Tyzack, litter picked as part of the Great British Beach Clean 2021 Week, and Spruce Up the Severn initiatives.

The Severn Beach area will benefit from new flood defences as part of the ASEA project. New flood defence walls to the north of Severn Beach are now largely complete. There has been significant progress too on the installation of new flood defence walls to the south.​  

Overall, the project will provide 17km of improved flood defences when complete in 2026/2027, from Lamplighters Marsh in the south to Aust in the north, reducing flood risk to around 2,500 homes and businesses. The defences will supplement existing flood barriers and help protect the area from the increased risk of flooding from climate change and rising sea levels.

The project will also create a minimum of 80ha, the equivalent of 112 football pitches, of new wetland habitats to support the internationally important Severn Estuary’s bird species, and improve walking routes.

The project is a partnership between South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council and the Environment Agency.

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Chair of West of England LEP: Why flood defence project is so important for economy

Chair of West of England LEP: Why flood defence project is so important for economy

As the economy opens up again, Richard Bonner, Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, discusses the long-term plans to protect the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area from flooding and why this work is so important to the regional economy’

The £80 million Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project is the biggest flood defence project and ecology project in the West of England’s history.

Work is now well underway on a package of flood defence measures along 17km of coastline – from Lamplighters Marsh in the south to Aust in the north – to reduce flood risk to 2,500 homes and businesses. This work will help to unlock up to 12,000 new jobs in the West of England by 2026 -2027.

This project creates great impetus for economic development in our region. It’s a huge boost – without it the Enterprise Area cannot come forward.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the works with other partners and seeing the brilliant progress being made is impressive. We’re really pleased to see so much being delivered.

With funding of £63m from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, administered by the West of England Combined Authority, we’re supporting the partnership work of South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council and the Environment Agency. Other funding sources are the Government’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid, and Local Levy raised by the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

These new flood defences will supplement existing flood barriers and help protect the area from the increased risk of flooding caused by climate change and rising sea levels. The defences will ensure the reduction of flood risk for at least 60 years – something which our region’s business and political leaders are confident will lead to even more significant investment in the Enterprise Area. The West of England’s recovery plan has a focus on a green recovery with sustainable opportunities for all. We’re working hard to provide businesses with the confidence that their plans for new jobs and investment will not be dampened by flooding concerns.

Situated near the M5 and M49 motorways, the Enterprise Area is a prime location for business – it’s perfectly-placed as an economic gateway between England and Wales, as well as between the Midlands and the South West.

From an ecological perspective, the project will improve flood defences and enhance the natural environment on the internationally important Severn Estuary– creating at least 80 hectares of coastal wetland habitats for bird species. It will also improve walking routes, making it easier for everyone to enjoy nature and the spectacular views of the Severn Estuary. This will be a huge boost for people’s physical and mental health.

We’ve already seen a great advance towards making the Enterprise Area a reality. I look forward to witnessing the forthcoming developments, with even more flood defence work and innovative technology in the pipeline. This will help us deliver the reassurances to businesses that the West of England is the premier location for their investment.

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What a hoot! Baby owls discovered at Hallen Marsh

What a hoot! Baby owls discovered at Hallen Marsh

News release 27 July 2021. Ecologists working on the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) Ecological Mitigation and Flood Defence project are thrilled to have discovered three new barn owl chicks at Hallen Marsh, north of Bristol. Lead ecologist Kath Thorne and ornithologist Ed Drewitt found the feathery trio last week, nesting in one of two boxes they had installed.

Work at Hallen Marsh is part of the project’s creation of a minimum of 80 hectares (the equivalent of around 112 football pitches) of new wetland habitats for the internationally important Severn Estuary’s bird species

Kath said: “We installed the owl boxes away from our new wetlands working area in disused buildings and a nearby tree so they could nest without being disturbed. We are all so pleased and excited that the owls have successfully raised these three chicks.“

Kath and Ed have since ringed, weighed and determined the age of the chicks. They will send the records to the British Trust for Ornithology

Along with the new wetlands, the £80m ASEA Ecological Mitigation and Flood Defence project will provide 17km of improved flood defences when complete in 2026/2027, from Lamplighters Marsh in the south to Aust in the north. The defences will supplement existing flood barriers and help protect the area from the increased risk of flooding from climate change and rising sea levels, reducing flood risk to around 2,500 homes and businesses.

The project will boost the regional and national economy by enabling development within the 1,800 hectare Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area, helping to unlock 12,000 new jobs by 2026.

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Major Flood Defence Project Progress Impresses West of England Leaders

Major Flood Defence Project Progress Impresses West of England Leaders

Leaders from across the West of England this week saw first-hand the significant progress being made on the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) Ecological Mitigation and Flood Defence project, including extensive new flood defence walls at Severn Beach.

Leader of South Gloucestershire Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Climate Change, Councillor Toby Savage; Councillor Nicola Beech, Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Waste and Energy at Bristol City Council; Emma Baker, Area Director Wessex, Environment Agency; and Richard Bonner, Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, visited the project at several sites.

The tour included a site to the south of Severn Beach. Approximately a kilometre of concrete flood defence wall has been placed here and to the north of Severn Beach. The walls consist of 428 units, all of which were precast offsite, meaning they were put in quickly and with the minimum of disruption.

The largest of its kind in the region, the project will provide 17km of improved flood defences when complete in 2026/2027, from Lamplighters Marsh in the south to Aust in the north, reducing flood risk to around 2,500 homes and businesses. The defences will supplement existing flood barriers and help protect the area from the increased risk of flooding from climate change and rising sea levels.

The project will also create a minimum of 80ha, the equivalent of 112 football pitches, of new wetland habitats to protect internationally important bird species, and improve walking routes.
The £80m project will boost the regional and national economy by enabling development within the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area, helping unlock 12,000 new jobs by 2026. The project is a partnership between South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council and the Environment Agency.

Cllr Toby Savage said: “We’ve come together with Bristol City Council and the Environment Agency on this project to protect people’s homes and businesses from flooding. The project will also boost and restore natural environments and help people enjoy spectacular views of the Severn Estuary.”

Cllr Nicola Beech said: “It is fantastic to see the scale of the project. These defences will protect thousands of homes and make our city more resilient to climate change. Importantly, it will also provide a huge boost to nature and wildlife by creating 80ha of new wetland habitats to protect internationally important bird species in the Severn Estuary and planting hundreds of native trees that will improve the environment for many years to come.“

So far, other achievements for the project, which started work on site last summer, include:
• Flood defence wall works at Passage Road, Aust: trial embankment complete
• New wetland habitat at Northwick – nearly three-quarters of the work complete
• Progress on improvements at Cake Pill and Chestle Pill to raise the outfall structures.

Emma Baker said: “Climate change is already happening, bringing greater flood risk to large parts of Avonmouth and Severnside. This project will protect not only present but future generations and it’s really exciting to see such progress. The Severn Estuary is internationally important for its habitats for birds and over 80 hectares of wetlands will provide safe roosts for the over wintering birds during high tides on the estuary.”

Funding has come from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, administered by the West of England Combined Authority. Other funding sources are the Government’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid, and Local Levy raised by the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Richard Bonner said: “This project creates great impetus for economic development in the region. It’s a huge boost – without it the enterprise area cannot come forward. Having the opportunity to visit the works with other partners and see the brilliant progress made is impressive. We’re really pleased to see so much being delivered.”

ENDS
ACCOMPANYING IMAGE: CAPTION (From left to right): Richard Bonner, Chair of the West of England LEP; Emma Baker, Area Director Wessex, Environment Agency; Councillor Nicola Beech, Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Waste and Energy at Bristol City Council; and Councillor Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, visit the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) Ecological Mitigation and Flood Defence project site south of Severn Beach.
Media enquiries: Contact the communications team at South Gloucestershire Council on: Telephone: 01454 863200. Email: strategiccommunications@southglos.gov.uk
Find out more:
• Subscribe to our quarterly e-newsletter by emailing
ASEA@environment-agency.gov.uk

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Progress Update

Joint message from the lead project partners

We’re excited to share news with you on the tremendous progress being made so far this year on the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project, the biggest of its type in the West of England. The project covers an extensive area, stretching from Aust in the north to Lamplighters Marsh in the south. 

When the project is complete in 2026/27 we will have: 

  • Provided around a 17km length of flood defence, reducing flood risk to 2,500 homes and businesses 
  • Helped to unlock 12,000 new jobs for the West of England 
  • Created a minimum of 80 hectares of new wetland habitats for internationally important bird species   
  • Created improved walking routes, making it easier for everyone to enjoy nature and the spectacular views of the Severn Estuary. 

We welcome your feedback. Let us know, too, if there is a future topic that you would like covered in this e-newsletter. 

Progress Update

Since the beginning of the year, and despite the challenges of Covid-19, we have made substantial progress.  

Delivering flood protection

In the north of the project area, we are installing a flood defence wall at Aust Wharf Road and expect to complete this work by this winter. We have installed a new filter drainage system at Passage Road and are constructing ramps to cross the road. Improvements to existing earth embankment flood defences are in progress from Passage Road to New Passage and will be completed in autumn 2022. We are also working at Cake Pill outfall to raise the structure and expect to complete this section of work in the summer.

Above: Raising the outfall structure at Cake Pill 

Above: Ongoing flood defence work at Severn Beach North 

Wetland Progress

Above: A curlew typical of those found in the Severn Estuary

A vital element of the project is the creation of new and sustainable wetland habitats to protect and secure the future of the internationally important bird species who make their homes on the Severn Estuary. Work is in progress and, by the end of the year, we will have created wetlands at both Northwick and Hallen Marsh. We are constructing new ponds, areas of shallow water, and ‘high-tide roosts’ for birds. 

Footpaths: temporary closure 

So that we can construct the new flood defence walls and ramps, sections of the Severn Way footpath between Aust and Chittening are temporarily closed. There will be a phased reopening of the footpath to allow completed sections to be reopened as works progress. The finished project will include footpath improvements.

Project partners Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council, the Environment Agency and the West of England Combined Authority have worked together to ensure that other footpaths remain open to provide alternative routes. A map with full details of the diversions and closures is available here.

click here to Read The complete update

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Update: A year of delivery – a plan for even more

Update: A year of delivery – a plan for even more

Joint message from the lead project partners 

Despite the most challenging circumstances, we are moving forwards with the most significant flood defence and ecology project that the West of England has ever seen. Our contractors, BMMjv, introduced a range of safety measures so that construction work could continue throughout the Covid-19 restrictions. And to great effect. Over the past year, we have made excellent progress to start the construction of the 17km of flood defences that will reduce flood risk to 2,500 homes and businesses and help to unlock 12,000 new jobs for our region. 

Read the complete update