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ASEA Flood defence newsletter

23 December 2024
Progress and news update 

Joint message from the lead project partners

Since our last update, the ASEA Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project has continued to make remarkable progress. We are approaching the completion of a significant section of the project, with much of the remaining work focused on landscaping and finishing works, ready for handover.

Over the past year, we have celebrated several key milestones: we’ve successfully established new wetland habitats, unveiled a stunning community mural at Lamplighter’s Marsh, installed state-of-the-art dock gates at Bristol Port, and welcomed notable political leaders to visit the project site. Additionally, our team’s innovative engineering efforts have been honoured with prestigious industry awards. 

When fully completed in 2026/27, the ASEA project will deliver 17km of advanced flood defences, significantly reducing flood risk for around 2,500 homes and businesses while helping to unlock 12,000 new jobs in the West of England by 2026. 

In this final edition of our newsletter, you’ll find updates on: 

  1. ASEA project wins big at prestigious engineering awards (ICE SW) 

  1. Handover of two new wetland habitats 

  1. New mural unveiled at Lamplighter’s Marsh  

  1. Bristol politicians visit the new mural 

  1. New dock gates installed at Bristol Port 

  1. Updated flood modelling now available  

Thank you for supporting this journey to a more secure, sustainable, and vibrant West of England.


Cllr Andrew Brown

Chair of the Economy and Skills Committee 
Bristol City Council


Dan Norris
West of England Mayor

Cllr Louise Harris

Cabinet Member for Climate
and Nature Emergency
South Gloucestershire Council 


Ian Withers
Acting Area Director
Environment Agency 

ASEA Project wins big at prestigious engineering awards  

A group of people from the ASEA project dressed in formal evening wear standing on stage at the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) South West Awards 2024. The group, consisting of men and women in suits and gowns, smile for the camera, with two ICE-branded podiums at either side of the stage.

On 24 October, we were delighted to announce that the ASEA Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project received three prestigious awards at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Civil Engineering Awards. 

The awards ceremony took place in Bristol, where the project was honoured with the Showcase Award, the Resilience Award, and the People’s Choice Award, which was determined by public vote.

The ICE judging panel praised the project’s innovative engineering and considerate approach to local landscapes and community needs.

Read more about the ICE South West Civil Engineering awards win

Handover of two new wetland habitats

Earlier this year, the ASEA project achieved a significant milestone with the handover of newly created wetlands at Hallen Marsh in Bristol and Aust in South Gloucestershire. These areas have been officially transferred to Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council, although landscaping will continue into 2025.
 
As part of a broader environmental strategy, the project has transformed over 80 hectares (equivalent to 112 football pitches) of land into wetland habitats to support local biodiversity and mitigate the impact of development. These habitats are essential for high tide roosting and feeding grounds for a variety of wetland birds, including curlew, pintail, and shelduck, as well as providing a home for water voles, barn owls, and newts.

Read more about the handover of new Severn Estuary wetland habitats.

New mural unveiled at Lamplighter’s Marsh

Image of the mural at Lamplighter's Marsh which is a vibrant, colourful mural painted on the flood defence walls. The mural features various nature-inspired designs, including birds, leaves, and abstract patterns in bright shades of red, blue, yellow, and green.

In May, residents of Avonmouth and Shirehampton celebrated the unveiling of a vibrant new mural at Lamplighter's Marsh, which was created on the flood defence wall as part of the ASEA project. The mural was a collaborative effort between the ASEA project team, artists from Graft and volunteers from Friends of Lamplighter’s Marsh. The mural reflects the rich biodiversity of the area and the community's connection to the nature reserve.

Graft’s artists designed the mural in collaboration with the community, drawing inspiration workshops with the local community. Volunteers from Friends of Lamplighter's Marsh, Environment Agency, and BAM Nuttall assisted in applying a teal base coat, which served as a canvas for images of local wildlife including curlew, dragonfly, oystercatcher, and Viper's bugloss.

Read more about the new mural unveiled at Lamplighters Marsh 

Bristol politicians visit the Lamplighter’s Marsh mural  

Darren Jones MP, Member of Parliament for Bristol North West, stands on the left wearing a navy suit and green tie, smiling. Councillor Jenny Bartle, Vice-Chair of Bristol City Council’s Economy and Skills Policy Committee, is in the center wearing a green suit and pointing while speaking to a group of people. Behind them, is a colourful mural is painted on the flood defence walls. The group is engaged in conversation during a site visit.

In October, Darren Jones MP, Member of Parliament for Bristol North West, and Councillor Jenny Bartle, Vice-Chair of Bristol City Council’s Economy and Skills Policy Committee, visited Lamplighter’s Marsh to see the new mural on the ASEA project flood defence wall. 

The visit served as an opportunity to provide Darren and Jenny with updates on the broader ASEA Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence project and the Bristol Avon Flood Strategy, which aims to enhance flood resilience elsewhere in the city.

Read more about the visit

New dock gates installed at Bristol Port  

A large group of workers in high-visibility vests and hard hats gather at the base of a newly installed set of dock gates at Bristol Port. The gates are massive black metal structures, with bright red hydraulic arms attached for operation. Beyond the gates, the calm sea and a long concrete pier stretch into the distance under a clear blue sky.

A significant milestone on the ASEA Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence project was made earlier this summer with the installation of new, state-of-the-art dock gates at the entrance to Avonmouth Dock.

Through the ASEA Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence project, Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, and the Environment Agency have collectively invested £6.8 million towards the new gates, working with Bristol Port Company (BPC) who managed the procurement and installation. The propped dock gates function both as navigational gates and as a flood risk management asset. Designed and manufactured in the Netherlands, the gates are capable of withstanding a 1-in-200-year tidal flood event and are built to accommodate rising sea levels. In addition to flood protection, they ensure navigational access for vessels, maintaining Bristol Port's critical operational needs.

Read more about the new dock gates installed at Bristol Port

Updated flood modelling now available  

BMMjv (Mott MacDonald) have now updated the Tidal Inundation Flood Model to represent the new as-built flood defence design, crest levels, alignment, and defence types. The following scenarios have been modelled:

For each scenario, flood extents, water depth and Hazard to People classifications results have been produced.
 
Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council will update their Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2 reports in due course to incorporate the new flood data.
 
Requests for the results, including accompanying reports, can be sent to the Environment Agency via: WessexEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Progress update

Passage Road area to New Passage

What’s happened

At Northwick Warth we have completed an additional drainage ditch on the landward side of the new flood embankment. This ditch reduces water collecting in the fields on the landward side of the embankment and helps drain the area of landscape planting.

A drainage ditch has also been installed on the estuary side of the new flood embankment, which is reducing the level of water in the lagoon just south of Cake Pill. Reducing the water level has improved the access for maintenance of the flood embankment.

The flood gates have received their final coat of paint prior to handover later this year.

What’s next?

Outfall drainage will be completed at the earth retaining wall at Northwick flood embankment, and landscaping maintenance will take place throughout all landscaped areas.

Severn Beach area
What’s happened

Between Severn Beach South and New Pill, we have completed finishing works, including the mechanical and electrical apparatus at New Pill Outfall. As planned, we have kept the footpath open throughout these works.

What’s next?

Landscaping maintenance works will take place throughout all landscaped areas.  

Avonmouth Docks & Lamplighter’s Marsh  
What’s happened

At Chittening Warth between Stupp Pill and Mitchells Salt outfalls, landscaping works are ongoing to reinstate the area’s organic status.


Earthworks have been completed along the estuary side of the sheet piled flood defence around the perimeter of the Esso fuel depot.

The placing of further rock armour has been completed at Holesmouth outfall improving its protection. This work included the construction of stairs for improving future maintenance access.

Reinstatement and drainage works have been completed along Port Road and the road re-opened to Port traffic.

Works are ongoing to improve the flood embankment along the River Avon adjacent to the Algeco compound.

What’s next

Some remedial works are required between the flood embankment and the railway at Lamplighter’s Marsh. 

The flood embankment work along the River Avon within Bristol Port will be complete by Spring 2025.

Wetlands
What’s happened

In the Spring we reinstalled water supplies and installed new water troughs across the wetland at Aust. 
Both the wetland area at Hallen Marsh and the wetland area at Aust have been handed over to the local authorities. 

Flow control structures are now active allowing water levels to be controlled to encourage the conditions favoured by overwintering wetland birds.

What’s next

Landscaping maintenance works are ongoing.

Footpath News

Prior to Christmas we plan to reopen the short length of footpath that is north of Cake Pill. Once this is reopened all public footpaths which were impacted by the scheme will be open to the public.

Engaging with you

Now that the project is nearing its end, we held our final Community Forum Meeting on 23 July 2024 and our final Economic Development & Environment Forum on 27 November 2024.

Unlocking future economic growth

A key purpose of the flood defences is to enable the mix of industrial and former industrial areas and other sites in the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) to become viable for commercial development and generate 12,000 new jobs by 2026.
 
Learn more about the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise area

Our website

Visit our website for the latest news and project progress as well as other important updates.

Contact us  

Email us at ASEA.PLO@BAMNuttall.co.uk
Visit the ASEA Flood Defence webpage
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