Case Study Southend-On-Sea Council’s Cliff Stabilisation Project

Southend-On-Sea’s Cliff Stabilisation Challenge

marlboroughhighways.co.uk

The Council needed to find a permanent engineering and drainage solution for the cliff slippage, and install a set of pre-cast steps cut into the bank. The project presented many operational and logistical challenges including; physical and time restricted site access, pre-planning and managing staggered work schedules in addition to heavy 3rd party co-ordination.

Southend-On-Sea has seven miles of coastline, a stunning seafront and cliffs that attracts 6.4 million tourists every year. In 2013, a period of extreme rainfall caused damage to the cliff face and several public footways. Over time, this led to dangerous cliff slippage on the banks and around a large, historic sun shelter visited by many tourists.

Fact FileClient: Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Contract: Southend-On-Sea Cliff Stabilisation

Date: December 2014 - August 2015

Duration: 9 months

Project investment: £1.15 million

Project: • Removal of 6,400 tonnes of slipped material• Installation of 69 x 450mm temporary piles • Construction of 75m of new reinforced retaining walls• Importing of 5,000 tonnes of granular infill • Installation of precast cascade steps and a bespoke hand rail• Construction of 340m² of new footway on the cliff face

Challenges: • Keeping a restaurant next to the site open 6 days a

week• Unexpected mechanical engineering challenges • Unforeseen project delays 24 weeks after starting• Large scale Traffic Management for residents and tour-

ists

Team:• 1 full time Program Manager• 25 Operatives across all trades• 1 site Foreman• 1 site Supervisor

Client savings:• Multi-skilled teams redeployed to 2 live projects during

down times •Support with 3rd party coordination

Marlborough led a 9 month infrastructure project and with 28 staff managed the significant aspects of the work: initial design implementation and extensive 3rd party co-ordination

Telephone: 020 7739 2976

Marlborough is a dynamic, independent civil engineering company with over 25 years’ experience in every aspect of civil engineering work. We have a pool of more than 480 multi-skilled, longstanding staff, and our own dedicated in-house Project Managers. Our supportive and highly experienced Senior Management team get involved from day one, and are always on-hand to provide exceptional customer care.

We’re passionate about delivery and committed to doing what we say we will, whatever it takes.

Marlborough’s Cliff Stabilisation Solution Marlborough’s proposal made perfect sense. With over 410 of their own Operatives and Specialists, Marlborough’s teams worked with Foremen and Supervisors to come up with a practical, innovative design solution to accommodate the challenging site conditions and working environment.

The Project Manager’s willingness to continually navigate through the project, consider design alternatives and find effective solutions was invaluable and helped keep project costing’s well managed.

“ Once the cliff stabilisation project got underway there were a few unexpected challenges that required revisiting structural plans, coordinating material sourcing, supply and fit very quickly. Our Project Manager, Andy took a proactive lead, improvised and didn’t sit back”.

Richard Atkins, Sea Defence Engineer,

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Marlborough’s large, in-house, and multi-skilled team of construction Operatives and Specialists was a huge bonus. It was quick and easy to re-deploy gangs to other live infrastructure and highway maintenance projects, at no cost.

“ We get real value for money from Marlborough. Whenever we experienced delays on the cliff project, they redeployed gangs of Operatives and asphalt & drainage Specialists across to our Lagoon project, or our highways maintenance work”.

Richard Atkins, Sea Defence Engineer,

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Marlborough’s experienced Project teams are very well established and combine years industry knowledge and “on the tools” practical work experience. They collaborate and work to solve and rectify problems before they become issues.

“We have a strong Project team that works together really well. My Project Manager, Andy is proficient, our Site Foreman Phil is quick to come up with solutions mid-project and our Maintenance Manager, John, is very efficient”.

Richard Atkins, Sea Defence Engineer,

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

marlboroughhighways.co.ukTelephone: 020 7739 2976