January 2010
Halcrow picked up six awards from seven categories at the 2009 Environment Agency Project Excellence Awards on 10 December 2009. The awards recognise outstanding projects undertaken on behalf of the Environment Agency.
The awards include the Project Management Award, Technical Merit Award, Health and Safety/Managing Environmental Risk Award, Sustainable Construction/Environmental Enhancement Award, Best National Review Group Submission and Overall Project Excellence Award.
A judging panel including Dr Jean Venables, president of the ICE, and Robert Runcie, Environment Agency director of flood and coastal risk management, reviewed over 50 individual projects.
Halcrow’s Porter's Lock Fish/Canoe Pass picked up the Innovation and Technical Merit Award. This integrated fish/canoe pass allows canoeists and fish to bypass Porter’s Lock on the River Medway is the first of its kind in the UK. Using recycled plastic has proved so successful on the scheme that it is already being rolled out to other sites on the Medway and other rivers.
The Health and Safety/Managing Environmental Risk Award was won by Stanah Sea Defenses. It demonstrated exemplary health, safety and environmental management during construction, working next to sites of special scientific interest and Ramsar designated sites.
Halcrow’s Pegwell Bay to Kingsdown Strategy scooped the Sustainable Construction/Environmental Enhancement Award. This project developed an innovative tidal relief flood risk management solution that moved away from the need for tidal barriers. This solution will not only reduce flood risk but will also create 220Ha of new environmental habitat.
Halcrow got the Project Management Award under its belt for the Caldew and Carlisle City Flood Alleviation Scheme. Delivered as a joint venture between Halcrow and Jacobs along with team members from the Environment Agency and contractors – Volker Stevin, the team was praised for its strong relationships and commitment to knowledge sharing. It also picked up the Overall Project Excellence Award.
Halcrow also won a further award for the best National Review Group submission with its Folkestone to Cliff End Strategy.
Tom Brown, national framework manger, commented: “This is a fantastic result. It is a real testament not only to the hard work, but also the skill, dedication and innovation of our teams. There is so much good work being carried out at Halcrow. We have a real opportunity to share this knowledge across all of our teams. It great to see this being recognised by these awards.”
Paul Turney, Halcrow’s Environment Agency client account team director, congratulated the team saying: “This is an outstanding achievement by our Halcrow teams which have demonstrated real passion, imagination and excellence that has contributed towards the Environment Agency’s strategic outcomes.”