Awards

Bristol Temple Meads Eastern Entrance

The Bristol Temple Meads Eastern Entrance marks the first major investment in the station in over a century and the first completed milestone in the wider Bristol Temple Quarter regeneration.

Delivered in two phases, the project overcame complex engineering and heritage challenges to create a fully accessible gateway linking the station to the new University of Bristol campus and the growing Temple Quarter community.

A standout engineering achievement involved tunnelling through the station’s existing subway concrete and masonry using a robotic breaker. This was completed without incident despite happening in a live station environment with trains running overhead.

The design blends modern architecture with the station’s historic character, using sustainable construction methods, repurposed materials, and energy-efficient features such as solar panels.

Once fully operational, it is expected to serve 2.5 million passengers annually by 2030. As a catalyst for wider development, the entrance improves access to sustainable transport, supports economic growth, and strengthens connectivity between East Bristol, the city centre, and the national rail network.

Project cost

• £15m

Key project partners

• BAM Nuttall
• Network Rail
• West of England Combined Authority

Dawlish to Holcombe Cliff Stabilisation

This ambitious scheme stabilised 1.2km of steep, geologically sensitive coastal cliffs above the main railway line between Dawlish and Holcombe in Devon, safeguarding a vital transport link.

The project involved dividing the cliffs into nine behavioural units and installing 6,200 soil nails—totalling 60km in length—along with 21,000m² of cliff netting. Working in a harsh marine environment, teams used rope-access drilling on near-vertical faces up to 40m high, with up to 18 cliff-mounted rigs operating simultaneously.

A key innovation was the development of a new combination bar solution, which reduced embodied carbon and saved over £7 million, allowing the full scope to be delivered despite inflationary pressures. Remarkably, the works were completed without disrupting rail services, even during one of the wettest winters on record.

The project has helped protect local homes, supported over 250 jobs, and included a skills development programme for local college students. It now provides a 100-year design life, ensuring long-term resilience for this iconic stretch of railway.

Project cost

• £32m

Key project partners

• BAM Nuttall
• Tony Gee and Partners
• Network Rail

Gooseum Rhyne Reservoir

Originally planned as a complex two-year engineering scheme to meet statutory safety improvements, the project to improve the Gooseum Rhyne Reservoir on the Congresbury Yeo River in North Somerset took a bold and innovative turn. Faced with rising costs, community concern and environmental issues, the project team pursued a creative alternative: legally deregulating the reservoir by reducing its storage capacity. This approach removed the legal requirement for major construction, avoided community disruption, and delivered the scheme ahead of the 2026 deadline.

Through detailed flood modelling and collaborative working, the team demonstrated that the revised design not only maintained flood protection but improved the resilience of the remaining embankments.

The solution saved approximately £8 million, achieved a 98% reduction in capital carbon, and significantly reduced future maintenance needs.

As the first reservoir in the Wessex area to be decommissioned by the Environment Agency, the project sets a precedent for sustainable flood management and delivered lasting social value, including the preservation of a much-loved village green.

Project cost

• £860k (total project cost £3.5m)

Key project partners

• Environment Agency
• AtkinsRéalis
• Kier

Hengistbury Head Long Groyne Upgrade

The Hengistbury Head Long Groyne Upgrade delivered one of the UK’s most environmentally ambitious coastal protection schemes, combining innovative engineering with large-scale marine biodiversity enhancements.

Originally built in 1937, the groyne plays a vital role in stabilising the coastline of Poole and Christchurch Bays and protecting Hengistbury Head—a historic site of international importance. Popular for leisure and tourism, the area features a mosaic of protected habitats including saltmarsh, heathland and sand dunes, supporting over 500 plant species and 300 bird species.

With the original structure no longer fit to withstand rising sea levels and storm events, the upgrade reused existing materials and introduced nature-positive features to support marine life.

The scheme protected over 6,000 properties, reduced potential economic damage and was completed three weeks early and 6% under budget. Extensive public and media engagement and social value initiatives further enhanced its legacy. The project is now being monitored for long-term ecological impact, setting a new benchmark for sustainable, community-focused coastal defence.

Project cost

• £10.24m

Key project partners

• BCP Council
• AtkinsRéalis
• Boskalis Westminster
• A Hall Marine

Lopwell Eel Screening

The scheme re-engineered South West Water’s abstraction site on the River Tavy in Devon to meet strict environmental regulations protecting migrating eels, a vital and endangered species.

Located in a popular and picturesque area, the screening project avoided disruptive cofferdams and in-situ concrete by modifying the existing intake structure, allowing an uninterrupted water supply to Plymouth’s Mayflower Water Treatment Works and improving long-term safety by removing confined space requirements.

Innovative design enhancements included side-mounted motor units and acoustic insulation for the new automated screens, all delivered within a tight 15-month programme and under budget.

The project safeguarded the river ecosystem, supported resilient water infrastructure for the area’s growing population, and minimised carbon impact through careful material choices and landscaping.

A strong local supply chain ensured economic benefits were retained within the region. This collaborative effort between client and contractor sets a benchmark for sustainable infrastructure upgrades with clear ecological, social, and operational value.

Project cost

• £1.8m

Key project partners

• Fishtek
• South West Water
• TMS
• A&T

Lyneham Banks

The Lyneham Banks project tackled a dramatic road failure, where a major landslip displaced the B4069 by 25 metres, cutting off a vital route through North Wiltshire.

Dubbed “the UK’s wonkiest road", the highway was closed for three years, forcing over 5,500 daily vehicle movements onto unsuitable local roads.

The project team designed and delivered a new piled retaining wall, stabilised the slope, and introduced improved drainage to ensure long-term resilience and safety.

Working in a geotechnically unstable and contaminated environment, the team used drone photogrammetry, real-time monitoring, and sustainable materials to reduce carbon emissions and enhance climate resilience. Long-term sensors were installed to monitor future ground movement.

Community engagement was central, generating £1.44 million in social value and restoring a critical connection for residents, businesses, and emergency services. Lyneham Banks is now safer, stronger, and built to last.

Project cost

• £5m

Key project partners

• Wiltshire Council
• AtkinsRéalis
• Octavius Infrastructure

Sweet Violets Bridge and link road

Described locally as the “missing link”, Sweet Violets Bridge and the new link road in Dawlish, Devon have transformed local connectivity and unlocked vital housing development.

Delivered through a strong local collaboration, the scheme includes a 26-metre span highway bridge, new carriageway, foot and cycle paths, and sustainable drainage features. The bridge name was chosen by Dawlish Town Council to commemorate the historic cultivation of violets in the local area.

The project provides direct access to over 400 new homes and diverts construction traffic away from school routes, improving safety and reducing congestion. It overcame significant challenges, including poor ground conditions and pressurised groundwater, resolved through an innovative soil mixing solution.

Designed with ecological enhancements and landscaped to blend into its surroundings, the scheme supports future growth and resilience. It delivers lasting social, environmental and economic benefits for the community.

Project cost

• £6.2m

Key project partners

• Devon County Council
• Teignbridge District Council
• Montel Civil Engineering
• WSP

Truro Tidal Gates

Started in 2023, the scheme aimed to install new tidal gates in Truro, Cornwall to help protect 185 homes and businesses from flooding for the next 30 years.

The project took place at a key spot on the Truro River and was carefully timed to avoid high tides, keeping everything safe and running smoothly. Impressively, the team completed over 16,000 hours of work without any serious incidents.

The team devised an innovative jetring mixer to disperse the silt. This not only made the gates work better but also saved around £285,000 over 15 years.

Good communication played a big role in the project’s success. The team worked closely with local residents, businesses, and the Harbour Master from the start.

The project was praised by the Considerate Contractor Scheme and brought over £600,000 into the local economy, along with £3.1 million in wider social benefits. Waste was handled responsibly, and some materials were reused to help the community.

The new gates now provide long-term flood protection for Truro, with minimal impact on the environment, helping to keep the city safe for years to come.

Project cost

• £5m

Key project partners

• Environment Agency
• Kier Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks
• AtkinsRéalis
• Centregreat Engineering

Since graduating in 2023, Alex has made a strong impact at Stantec, leading concept design on a £180m water recycling scheme for Poole in Dorset. His innovative thinking helped reduce carbon and improve biodiversity by reusing existing infrastructure.

A committed advocate for safety and sustainability, Alex received a ‘Doing What is Right’ award and actively promotes civil engineering through ICE events, school outreach in his role as chair of the ICE Bristol & Bath Early Careers Network.

His leadership, technical excellence, and dedication to inclusive engagement mark him as a rising star in the profession.

Benedict works at Hinkley Point C, where he’s made a measurable impact through technical innovation and inclusive leadership. He developed an automated Excel script that streamlines setting-out data for Autodesk applications, significantly improving efficiency and accuracy on site.

A proactive mentor and advocate, Benedict supports junior colleagues, champions diversity through Kier’s inclusion networks, and promotes civil engineering in community outreach.

His integrity, professionalism, and drive to improve both project delivery and workplace culture make him an exceptional early career engineer and a powerful ambassador for the profession.

Beth has made a national impact early in her career through her leadership on the Department for Education’s RAAC response programme. She developed digital tools and reporting systems that enabled real-time data sharing with government, while co-authoring best practice guidance during a period of intense public scrutiny.

Beth champions inclusive engineering, co-leading mental health initiatives and mentoring junior colleagues. A dedicated STEM ambassador and tutor, she inspires future engineers through outreach and work experience.

Her calm professionalism, innovation, and social awareness mark her as a standout early career engineer.

Karim is a graduate engineer working on the complex marine and tunnelling works at Hinkley Point C, where he leads temporary works design packages and collaborates on 4D simulations to enhance safety and efficiency.

Beyond his core role, he champions inclusion and early careers development, leading the Strategic Design Partnership Early Careers Network across five major firms.

Karim also organised a cross-industry hackathon featured in Design and Build UK, and actively supports community outreach—from refugee engagement to tutoring. His broad contributions reflect a deep commitment to engineering with purpose and impact.