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HomeNewsGlasgow flood prevention scheme wins top award

Glasgow flood prevention scheme wins top award

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The White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme (FPS), which was built by main contractors VolkerStevin and Carillion, won the national Environmental Award at the British Construction Industry (BCI) Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

BCI Awards 2012

The BCI Awards are the UK's top accolade for overall excellence in building and civil engineering projects. They attract around 200 entries each year representing the best building and civil engineering projects throughout the UK, ranging in size from very small to major.

VolkerStevin attended a ceremony in London with client Glasgow City Council and designers Halcrow to collect the award.

VolkerStevin's £27.5m contract for the Glasgow scheme was completed in October 2011, it involved constructing 5km of sheet piled, in-situ and pre-cast concrete clad flood defence walls at 26 separate sites both through the residential and business areas.

The integrated project team consisting of VolkerStevin and Glasgow City Council, also constructed six pumping stations, two raised footbridges and made streetscape improvements. The very nature of the project; constructing at so many sites and within close proximity to residents and businesses as well as working in the river, meant that environmental issues and community engagement were top priority for the team.

As part of the design of the ambitious engineering project there have been major enhancements made for Glasgow's biodiversity and wildlife habitats with the creation of new woodland, scrub, species-rich wet grasslands, shallow scrapes and ponds and other artificial habitats.

White Cart Water FPS which was officially opened in October last year, has reduced the risk of flood damages of over £100 million by protecting approximately 1,750 homes and businesses along the river.

The project beat off stiff competition from construction projects across the UK - including work at Heathrow airport and Paddington Station; new bridges in Derry and Battersea, and Bradford's City Park, which includes the country's largest water feature.

Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Jobs and the Economy at Glasgow City Council, said: "It is a great honour to receive such a prestigious award. The White Cart Flood Prevention Scheme is not just about great engineering, at its heart is a regeneration project which has made a huge difference to people living and working in the southside.

"Glasgow has been very ambitious for this project. The project team involved in the design and construction of the scheme have created an exceptional and bespoke design. This scheme now not only protects people from the fear of flooding but has led to improvements both in terms of the environment and the significant enhancements made to allow future economic."

Mark Gardner, Business Director at VolkerStevin, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won this award, the project was a huge engineering and logistical challenge. The project team deserve this recognition for their commitment and efforts over the three years we were on site. It is a great example of a truly integrated project with our team working seamlessly with Glasgow City Council to achieve great results."

Antony Oliver, Editorial Director of NCE said: "The judges without question witnessed project delivery that could only have been dreamed of in 1988 when these awards began.

"Whether through use of technology, or through greater attention to planning, people and safety, clients can now expect excellence as the norm."

Since 1908 there have been more than 20 significant floods caused by relatively minor storms in this area of Glasgow. Within weeks of the project going live, the White Cart Flood Prevention Scheme significantly reduced two flood events (one in November 2011 and the other in February 2012), saving £14 million in flood damages and spared over 230 homes and businesses from the misery of flooding.

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