Broughty Ferry Flood Protection Scheme

Framework: SCAPE Scotland Construction

Sector: Flood protection/public realm

Project Value: £14.8 million

Social Value: 91% local labour, 58% local spend

Sustainability: 100% sustainable energy used

Environment: 42,355 tons of waste materials reused, recycled and recovered

Construction of a coastal flood protection scheme to protect properties from the Firth of Tay.

McLaughlin & Harvey was asked to provide state-of-the-art flood defences to protect against a one in 200-year storm event with minimum of disruption to residents, businesses, and wildlife.

The scheme was designed to prevent tidal surge inundation of sea water into properties along Douglas Terrace, Fisher Street and Beach Crescent on the north coast of the Tay.

As well as the improvement of the public amenity in the coastal town with numerous improvements including benches, street furniture, public art, and high-quality paving.

The council had originally developed a proposal and received a budget cost, but it exceeded their budget, programme, and risk appetite. Following this, McLaughlin & Harvey engaged with the Council, offering early contractor advice on alternative design options, construction methods, programme, and budget costs.

From our initial engagement with Dundee City Council, our approach was focused on mitigation of the key scheme constraints and challenges by proposing robust, safe, cost-effective solutions to deliver the works for the benefit of Dundee City Council and Broughty Ferry, who were at risk from coastal flooding.

The scheme had various challenges including running sands on the foreshore, a buried GRP pumped sewer pipeline, and gravity return culvert in the beach with constraints on piling, an adjacent public road, multiple residential properties, tidal restrictions, and public interfaces.

We have mitigated the impacts of the project on the town and its residents by proactive engagement with the various project stakeholders and statutory bodies, including Dundee City Council, Marine Scotland, Scottish Water, SEPA. RNLI, utility companies, local residents and businesses.

From our initial engagement with Dundee City Council, we focused on addressing key constraints and challenges by proposing robust, safe, cost-effective solutions.

We engaged with project stakeholders and statutory bodies to ensure minimal disruption during the coastal works. Completed within budget and programme, the new continuous off-road scheme enhances the beauty of the area and provides easy access to the coastline, promoting walking and cycling.

This encourages healthier lifestyles for locals and visitors. Additionally, the project included numerous community benefits, including using local suppliers, creating job opportunities and helping to refurbish the iconic red telephone box on Gray Street.

Project achievements

As part of the scheme, a four-metre-wide cycleway and footpath was created along the entire length of the project to form part of an active travel plan which forms part of the National Cycle Network route 01 along the east coast of Scotland running from Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

Replacing the existing narrow one-metre-wide footpath which had limited fall protection, the new continuous off-road scheme enables more people to access and enjoy the coastline. The project has created a better, safer environment to walk and cycle which encourages both locals and visitors to enjoy a healthier lifestyle through being more active.

placements, apprentices and trainees

99%

diversion from landfill

circular economy initiatives