Contractor sought for construction of £22.3M coastal defence scheme in Portsmouth

Portsmouth City Council is seeking a contractor to construct a £22.3M coastal defence scheme at Ports Creek.Coming under the remit of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme, the contract is for the construction of phase five of the project to deliver a flood and coastal erosion risk management scheme located to the north of Portsea Island.Work for the scheme involves the construction of an earth embankment with a rock revetement toe. It also includes consolidation and partial removal of existing defence structures and associated works. In some instances, redundant structures will be removed and appropriately reused or disposed of, to minimise foreshore encroachment. The current defences are made up of multiple structures, generally comprising of mass concrete filled oil drums along with dilapidated seawalls.As part of the contract, the winners will be expected to provide demolition, site preparation and clearance work, excavating and earthmoving work, footpath construction work, the installation of flex MSE retaining walls and the construction of the defences.Further ancillary works include piling around an outfall, path construction, concrete works to an existing slipway and tying into Network Rail land and working to Network Rail constraints in this area. The main works will take place between the eastern side of the Portsbridge Roundabout through to the Network Rail bridge. The works consist of constructing a sloping revetment with a raised earth embankment along most of the frontage.The contractor will have to work with Network Rail and follow an agreed safe method of working when in the vicinity of the railway line bridge.Currently, the council is requesting those interested to complete a supplier selection questionnaire by 26 February. Successful contractors will the be invited to tender for the contract from 25 March before the winners will be notified on 15 July. The council is then targeting an award contract date of 26 July before the winning contractor will be able to gain access to the site on 2 September.The current project timeline envisions the contract to last until 31 August 2026.The project is subject to funding from the Environment Agency and there is currently a shortfall in respect of the current funding. However the council has said it is working with the funder and is confident the funding required will be secured in principle prior to the issue of the tender.Portsmouth City Council’s tender reads: “In line with industry practice the council’s designer (Royal HaskoningDHV) has sought and obtained early contractor involvement input from JT Mackley in order to inform aspects of design, work method, site establishment and management, programme and costings.”In 2020, studied how ecological considerations were providing an interesting context for earlier stages of the North Portsea Island Coastal Defence Scheme.Like what you’ve read?