The East coast of England is one of the fastest eroding shorelines in Europe, with homes and communities already suffering the consequences of the relentless force of the North Sea. To protect the region and its sandy cliffs, North Norfolk Council has recently undertaken its Cromer and Mundesley Coastal Management Schemes, which has seen 70,000 tonnes of aggregates laid across the shoreline.
Contractor Balfour Beatty partnered with construction materials supplier, Aggregate Industries, to specify its Rock Armour aggregate. Utilised in three different sizes – three to six tonne, 300kg to one tonne and 15-30kg – the product in situ will negate the accelerating coastal erosion most effectively.
Selected for its unique logistical capabilities, Aggregate Industries supplied the Rock Armour stone from its flagship quarry in Glensanda, Scotland. The product was shipped down to the East Coast where the boat anchored at sea, with a smaller barge transporting approximately 1,000 tonnes of aggregates to the beach twice a day at high tide.
Nick Gilbert, Business Development Manager for Aggregate Industries, said:
“As soon as we were approached to be involved in this scheme, we knew our Rock Armour and logistical solutions would perfectly fit the bill.
“The East of England lacks the natural hardstone quarries that can produce the necessary size and quantity of rock required for this project. Added to that, the road transport links are not ideal given the impressive cliffs that run along the coast. Our ability to anchor a boat at sea and deliver aggregates by barge is ideal for coastal management projects and minimises disruption to the surrounding communities.
“A lot of thought and planning went into the route and anchoring for this project, bearing in mind the fishing and crabbing industry in this part of the country, as well as service lines that run under the seabed.”
The Cromer and Mundesley Coastal Management Schemes received £25million in funding from the Environment Agency, North Norfolk Council, Anglian Water and Mundesley Parish Council.
The Mundesley shoreline project was undertaken first and covers 2km in total, with the Cromer Coastal Management Scheme following shortly after and comprising of 300 metres of rock revetment west of the pier. The Mundesley shoreline project was undertaken first and covers 2km in total, with the Cromer Coastal Management Scheme following shortly after and comprising of 300 metres of rock revetment west of the pier. Both aspects of the project saw repair works to groynes, navigation aids and additional sea wall protection.
A spokesperson for Balfour Beatty adds:
“Coastal erosion is a very real threat, and the growing impacts of climate change are becoming all the more evident on our picturesque British coastlines. Working with North Norfolk Council on the Cromer and Mundesley schemes, we understood the vital importance of protecting both of these shorelines and thus a hard wearing and reliable product was essential.
“Logistically this project presented a challenge in the lack of road network available, but Aggregate Industries’ capability of delivering the rock by sea was really ground-breaking for this project and enabled it to run smoothly and on-time.”
