River Thames Scheme moves forward with appraisal award for GBV

The UK’s largest inland flood risk scheme has moved forward with the award of a major appraisal study to GBV, a joint venture comprising Galliford Try and Black & Veatch. Flood risk for more than 15,000 properties, including all communities between Datchet and Teddington, will be reduced by the River Thames Scheme. The work encompasses many areas affected by major flooding in the winter of 2013-14. 

The appraisal study will assess feasibility, undertake outline design, and create a business case for the scheme. “In recent years we have experienced some of the UK’s worst floods, and we expect the extreme weather which caused them will become more frequent. This makes the appraisal work a significant step in reducing risk to more communities along the Thames,” according to Matthew Nott, director for GBV. 

Once funding is secured, this major engineering undertaking will see the creation of a new flood channel running parallel to the River Thames between Windsor and Shepperton. In addition the capacity of the weirs at Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington will be increased; and the Desborough Cut widened. “To facilitate this we will be undertaking outline design, and a diverse range of environmental, geotechnical, hydraulic and economic assessments; drawing upon experience gained on the Jubilee River, Olympic Park, and Thames Tideway projects,” Nott added. 

Galliford Try undertakes the bulk of GBV’s construction work. In addition to some construction services Black & Veatch provides the full suite of consulting and design services. As a result Black & Veatch will deliver most of the River Thames Scheme appraisal study. 

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Editor’s Notes:

• Scope of the River Thames Scheme appraisal study includes: outline design and costing of approximately 15km of flood relief channel, two motorway crossings, two rail bridges, 12 major river control structures and the material management associated with 140 hectares of landscaping
• Since June 2013 Black & Veatch and Galliford Try have been GBV joint venture partners on the Environment Agency’s Water and Environmental Management (WEM) framework
• Black & Veatch has been working for the EA since 1997, Galliford Try has been serving the agency since 2006
• Matthew Nott is a director of Black & Veatch as well as GBV 

About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building Critical Human Infrastructure™ in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2013 were US$3.6 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media. 

About Galliford Try
Galliford Try plc is a leading UK housebuilding and construction group. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and a member of the FTSE 250. The housebuilding business – through its Linden Homes brand – sells distinctive homes to the public and affordable homes to housing associations and local authority providers across the South and South East of England.  The construction business carries out building and infrastructure work across the UK with clients ranging from major Government departments through to regulated utilities and private sector companies. At the end of the financial year to 30 June 2013, the Group generated revenues of £1.5 billion. 

On 10 July 2014 Galliford Try acquired Miller Construction.  Miller Construction is a UK construction business which delivers building and infrastructure projects to both the public and private sectors. In the year to 31 December 2013, Miller Construction reported revenue of £409 million.