Winners of the ICE South West Project of the Year Awards 2012 have been announced.
The team behind Polperro Sewage Treatment Scheme in Cornwall is celebrating their success, after the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Project of the Year Awards 2012 winners were announced.
The awards were presented at the ICE South West Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony held on Friday 22nd June at the Marriott Royal Hotel in Bristol.
Trish Johnson, ICE South West Regional Director said: “The objective of the awards is to recognise construction projects completed in 2011 of particular merit, physical achievement, innovation or ingenuity which promote the excellence of the engineering profession.
“This year’s awards saw an unprecedented number of nominations, which showed the wide range of fantastic civil engineering projects taking place in the South West. The winner’s thoroughly deserved their awards and fought off some very strong competition.”
Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering was the contractor on the scheme, which was declared the winner of the Major Project of the Year Award 2012, for projects over £1 million. The project was designed by Halcrow Group Limited for South West Water.
The Polperro Sewage Treatment Scheme was the final phase of South West Water’s Clean Sweep programme, which modernised sewage treatment all around the South West peninsula, transforming the quality of the region’s bathing waters. It consisted of the design and construction of a sewage screening building and a 385m long sea outfall, with access only possible from the sea or via the South West Coast Path.
The judges commented: "This was an innovative and bespoke design solution and construction methodology, in response to a very sensitive and physically constrained site. Providing a visually discrete scheme in this important tourist area is of particular merit.”
Winners of the Minor Project of the Year, for projects under £1 million were Dorset County Council working with Sans Façon, for Charmouth Footbridge Replacement.
Dorset County Council worked closely with Charmouth Parish Council from the start, and consulted local residents and school children on their thoughts and ideas for the bridge. During design and construction, the project engineer contributed several articles to the parish magazine to keep local people updated on progress. This work paid dividends by making sure that the community had an understanding of the necessary design and construction processes.
The judges commented: "The bridge has a practical and interesting design, which arose from a real engagement with the people who would be using it and sensitivity to the setting. Good material choices with an eye on sustainability, costs, and the local environment.”
Highly commended in the Major Project of the Year category were Devon County Council, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Carillion for Redhayes Bridge in Exeter, and Environment Agency, Interserve, Atkins, Peter Brett Associates and EC Harris for Shaldon and Ringmore Tidal Defence Scheme.
Highly commended in the Minor Project of the Year category was Somerset County Council for Simonsbath Bridge Emergency replacement, and Raymond Brown Construction Ltd and Waterman Group with clients Bournemouth Borough Council and British Cycling for Slades Farm Cycle Track.
The Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment (CEEQUAL) Interim Award went to Bristol Resilience Scheme Water Supply Mains and Pumping Station, designers Black & Veatch, with contractors May Gurney for Bristol Water. The award is given to civil engineering and public projects that improve sustainability.