Joint message from the lead project partners
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Since our last newsletter, the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project has achieved several important milestones. We have completed new sections of flood defences near Aust and at Severn Beach. Extensive work on 80 hectares of new wetlands to support important bird species is almost finished too. You’ll find the latest project news below.
The project is hugely significant for our region and we are delighted to see its continuing progress. Covering an area stretching from Aust in the north to Lamplighter’s Marsh in the south, the project encompasses the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area, one of the UK’s most important industrial locations. When completed in 2026-2027, the project will reduce flood risk to 2,500 homes and businesses and help to unlock 12,000 new jobs for the West of England. It will also create new wetland habitat for birds along with the internationally important Severn Estuary.
You can find a wealth of information including news, case studies and videos on the new project website.
We welcome your feedback.
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Watch: Tackling climate emergency
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World leaders recently met at COP26 in Glasgow to discuss how we can reduce carbon emissions and restore nature on a global scale in response to climate change. You can watch a short video here with Emma Baker, Wessex Area Director at the Environment Agency, talking about how the ASEA flood defence project is reducing the increased flood risk caused by climate change.
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Interview with Emma Baker, Area Director Wessex, Environment Agency
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Discover: Innovation - A new flood defence wall with very special features
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The project is using innovative techniques and designs in our work. At Aust Wharf Road, the recently completed flood defence wall features built-in oak habitat shelves on the Severn Estuary side to enable plants to thrive.
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On the other side, the wall has a stone render, to help it blend with its surroundings. Read more about how and why we came up with this design.
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Discover more about other innovative techniques used on the project.
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Passage Road area to New Passage
What’s happened
We have completed sections of the new flood defence wall at Aust Wharf Road and expect to finish all sections by spring 2022. We’ve installed a section of a new filter drainage system at Passage Road and raised the earth flood embankment next to it. Works are ongoing to raise sections of the road to tie in with the new defences. Excavation works have started at two of four new flood gate locations. Improvements to existing earth embankments are in progress and set to be complete in autumn/winter 2022.
Works are ongoing to raise existing outfall structures at Cake Pill, Chestle Pill and Cotteralls Pill. At New Passage we are constructing a flood defence wall.
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New Passage flood defence wall - September 2021
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What’s next?
We will install new flood gates, one of which will be on top of the new road ramp at the northern end of Passage Road, near Old Passage. We will also install glass panels at New Passage.
Outcome
The works will reduce the risk to homes and agricultural land between Aust Wharf Road and Passage Road from flooding.
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What’s happened
The new precast flood defence walls and other works to the north of Severn Beach are largely complete. We’ve also made significant progress on the installation of precast concrete flood defence walls to the south of Severn Beach.
To the south of the area near Chittening, we are installing sheet piles as part of a sheet-piled wall flood defence. Works are ongoing to raise the existing outfall structure at New Pill.
What’s next?
We will complete the driving of piles to level to the south of the area, and the raising of New Pill outfall. We will construct an earth embankment between the precast concrete wall to the south of Severn Beach and the sheet pile wall to the south of the area.
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Severn Beach North flood defence wall - September 2021
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Outcome
The works will reduce the risk to homes and businesses around Severn Beach from flooding.
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Avonmouth Docks & Lamplighter’s Marsh
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What’s happened
We are carrying out surveys around the docks to identify existing services before we start work on the new flood defence walls in 2022.
What’s next
Throughout the Avonmouth docks area we will be installing various flood defences that will include sheet piled walls; precast concrete walls; concrete walls for which the concrete is poured on-site; and earth flood embankment.
To the north of the area, through Chittening Warth, we will construct an earth flood embankment, starting in Spring 2022. We have begun work at Mitchells Salt where we are currently placing concrete blinding for the northern transition wall. The works at Mitchells Salt will continue until March 2022.
To the south of the area at Lamplighter’s Marsh, we will be installing a small earth flood embankment that will tie into a precast concrete flood defence wall beneath the M5 River Avon Bridge.
Improvements will also be made to Stupp Pill, Holes Mouth Outfall and Kings Weston Outfall structures which will stop tidal water from entering into the local watercourses.
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Digging of trench - July 2021
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Outcome
The project will reduce the risk of flooding to businesses, homes and infrastructure, and enable development in this important Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area, helping unlock 12,000 new jobs by 2026 and boosting the regional and national economy.
Pedestrian access will be maintained into Lamplighter’s Marsh as much as possible throughout the works so that the area can continue to be enjoyed.
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What’s happened
Hallen Marsh Wetland
Work on the scrapes (shallow bowls with gently sloping sides which hold rain and flood water seasonally) is complete. Embankments have been created and flow control structures installed in ditches to help retain water over winter.
Northwick Wetland
Scrapes have also been created at Northwick, in addition to a number of permanent ponds. As with Hallen Marsh, embankments have been created and flow control structures installed.
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Northwick Wetland
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What’s next
We will be carrying out landscaping at both wetlands in spring 2022, as soon as the ground is dry enough for vehicles.
Outcome
The work will create a minimum of 80ha of new wetland habitats, the equivalent of 112 football pitches, to support the internationally important Severn Estuary’s bird species.
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Read about progress in all the areas and view our interactive map on the new website here.
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Road and Footpath Temporary Closures
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Works to construct flood ramps and associated structures will mean part of Passage Road will remain closed until Spring 2022. The road closure is between the southern junction of Passage Road with the A403 and just beyond the entrance to BMMjv’s former site compound, south of the junction with Aust Wharf Road.
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A diversion route is currently in place for both vehicles and cyclists, and an alternative footpath diversion route is signposted.
We have had to close sections of the Severnway footpath between Aust and Chittening. Project partners Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council, the Environment Agency, and the West of England Combined Authority have worked together to ensure that other footpaths remain open to provide alternative routes. Full details, including maps, can be found here.
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Engaging with the community
Over the last few months, we have met with members of local parish councils and also held our first Community Forum. The forum, which will meet regularly, provides a channel of communication between our project team and representatives of resident, business and community groups.
We also held the first Environment and Economic Forum to provide an opportunity for major employers and other organisations in the area to engage further in the project. If you would like to find out more, contact aseaproject@jbp.co.uk.
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