Welsh government’s wellbeing goals at heart of award-winning projects

Civil engineering projects that contribute to the Welsh government’s wellbeing objectives have been celebrated at the 2023 ICE Wales Cymru Annual Awards.

Award winners were announced at a ceremony held during a gala dinner at the Marriott Hotel, Cardiff on Friday 22 September.

This year’s projects were described by John Mather, chair of the judging panel, as all being impressive in their own way.

Mather said: “Comparing different projects is never easy and the competition this year was particularly stiff.

“We shortlisted 17 projects and visited the sites of all the projects in Wales ranging in cost between £75k and £30m. We would like to have given awards to all the project teams.

“But sadly, that is not possible, and instead we offer our congratulations to all who took part and thank you for your knowledge, skills and enthusiasm and for showing us around your sites.”

For the 2023 awards, the judges recognised projects in the following categories:

• Designed in Wales Award
• Chair’s Special Award
• Alun Griffiths Award for Community Engagement
• Bill Ward Sustainability Award
• Roy Edwards Award (<£5m)
• George Gibby Award (>£5m)

Projects ranged from £0.25m and £321m. The 2023 winners were:

Designed in Wales Award – Faith Nursery and Primary School Phase One, Kachumbala, Uganda

This award is presented to a project that has demonstrated outstanding design and construction, which has been designed in Wales and constructed elsewhere (either in the UK or overseas).

The winner was Faith Nursery and Primary School in Kachumbala, Uganda, the current project for Engineers for Overseas Development Limited.

Two blocks comprising three classrooms and a dining room have been constructed at a cost of £75,000.

These have been in use since June 2022, and the number of pupils attending the school has grown by 65% to 170.

It’s a large project so has been split into three phases.

The project was submitted by Engineers for Overseas Development Limited (EFOD) Cardiff. The key partners were Faith Nursery and Primary School, Arup, Mott MacDonald, and a local crew.

Chair’s Special Award – Dwyran Natural Flood Management (NFM) Pilot Scheme, Anglesey

The Chair’s Special Award is presented to any individual or project that has demonstrated exceptional skill and expertise or made an exceptional contribution to the profession.

The 2023 winner was Dwyran Natural Flood Management (NFM) Pilot Scheme in Anglesey.

The capacity of the open channel networks, fed by two natural springs and rainfall, were exceeded, posing a risk to several properties in the area.

The scheme now consists of an earth bund forming a flood storage area which creates a wetland that brings environmental benefits.

The project was submitted by GRIFFITHS and its key partners were the Isle of Anglesey County Council and Waterco.

Alun Griffiths Award for Community Engagement – Llyn Tegid Reservoir Safety Improvements, Bala

This award, sponsored by GRIFFITHS, is in recognition of the civil engineering industry in Wales and the work undertaken to engage with local communities while improving infrastructure and/or services.

The Llyn Tegid Reservoir Safety Improvements in Bala were this year’s winning project. The reservoir safety improvements scheme, which provides flood protection to Bala, involved community engagement.

The reservoir safety improvements will facilitate a proposed extension of the Bala Lake Railway into the town.

Environmental sustainability, at the heart of the project, seeks to enhance habitats and biodiversity.

It was submitted by Natural Resources Wales. Its key partners were Binnies UK Ltd, William Hughes (Civil Engineering) Ltd, Arcadis UK Ltd, Dams & Reservoirs Ltd and Ground Control Ltd.

Bill Ward Sustainability Award – Wood Street, Central Square, Cardiff

The Bill Ward Award is presented to the project that best demonstrates the principles of sustainability during delivery and on completion. This includes social, economic and environmental benefits.

This year’s winner was the Wood Street project in Central Square, Cardiff.

Part of the wider Central Square development, this project connects several critical hubs encapsulating many competing challenges through effective design and delivery.

The project demonstrates how nature-based solutions, creative thinking and collaboration can re-purpose car-centric streets into resilient multi-functional spaces.

The project was submitted by Arup and Knights Brown, in partnership with the Cardiff County Council.

The Roy Edwards Award – Llansannan Flood Allevation Scheme

The Roy Edwards Award is presented to the best example of outstanding design and construction of a project costing less than £5 million.

This year’s winning project was the Llansannan Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The village of Llansannan had suffered from significant flood events for over a decade.

Employment of an experienced local contractor and a partnership approach with the client allowed work on this project to be safely and efficiently completed while maintaining good relationships with residents.

The project was submitted by MWT Civil Engineering Ltd. Its key partners were Conwy County Borough Council and AECOM.

This award was named after Colonel Roy Edwards who was the longest serving member of the South Wales Association committee and first territorial member of the institution’s Council (1949-54).

George Gibby Award – M4 Ebbw River Bridge Strengthening, Tredegar Park, Newport

The George Gibby Award is presented to the best example of outstanding design and construction of a project costing more than £5 million.

The 2023 winner was the M4 Ebbw River Bridge Strengthening in Tredegar Park, Newport.

This part of the M4 is a key link and essential to the economy of south Wales.

Challenging access limits for labour, heavy construction plant and materials on this project were overcome to place 20 steel box beams beneath the bridge with minimal disturbance to traffic.

The project was submitted by GRIFFITHS, with key partners South Wales Trunk Road Agency/Welsh government and WSP.

This award honours the highly respected ICE member George H Gibby (1923-2010), who originally proposed the idea of an awards scheme to celebrate civil engineering.