Building Control News

Eight engineering firms share £2.6bn flood defence network

April 18, 2019

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NGSA, flood and coastal, engineering, — © Richard Johnson

The Environment Agency has chosen eight engineering firms for its £2.6bn supplier framework, which will promote innovative ways of mitigating flood risk

Effective from April 2019, the Environment Agency’s Next Generation Supplier Arrangements (NGSA) will form the basis of new ways of working which will help better protect people and the environment whilst ensuring that sustainable development is at the core.

The new NGSA arrangements promote innovative ways of collaborative working with delivery partners and local communities from the initial planning stages of a project right through to its completion.

The new supplier arrangements will also lead to longer-term team working and new ways of engaging with local organisations and communities.

This closer working aims to ensure homes, communities and businesses are receiving the best possible flood and coastal management for the challenges facing their area. At the same time flood and coastal defence projects will promote economic growth, social wellbeing and will seek to enhance levels of natural capital within the local community, making sure that each scheme brings long-lasting benefits for future generations.

Toby Willison, executive director of operations at the Environment Agency, said: “This ambitious new framework will help us to continue to deliver our £2.6bn flood and coastal defence programme in a way which ensures that sustainability, efficiency and value for money remain at the very heart of the work we do to protect people, homes and the environment.

“The Environment Agency continues to work closely with partners and communities from across the country to deliver our commitment of investing £2.6bn to better protect 300,000 homes from flooding and coastal erosion over six years.”

The new arrangements are also a major step forwards for delivering low carbon solutions for projects which will help the EA work towards the Government’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. The NGSA arrangements take effect immediately and run through to 2023 with the opportunity to extend to 2027.