Quirky coastal defence project shortlisted for ICE award

The Newlyn Coastal Research & Development Project has been shortlisted by The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Civil Engineering Awards 2023.

The Newlyn Coastal Research & Development Project is trialing innovative new ways of offering better protection to coastal communities while improving habitat for coastal biodiversity.

It puts a new twist on the classic method of using rock armour by using local supply chains for low-carbon concrete blocks.

Each block comes in a variety of patterns and configurations and hardy enough to cope in a challenging breakwater environment.

The unique designs on the blocks offer a foothold for coastal biodiversity like algae to cling to, each block becoming a mini habitat.

The Newlyn project was selected as one of 14 project finalists.