Atkins Part of Environment Agency’s New Framework

Atkins – a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group – has won a place on a new Environment Agency (EA) framework which will continue to deliver a £2.6 billion program to better protect homes from flooding and coastal erosion.

Effective from April 2019, the EA’s Next Generation Supplier Arrangements (NGSA) will form the basis of new ways of working which will help better protect people and the environment whilst ensuring that sustainable development is at the core of Environment Agency projects.

Atkins has been appointed as consultants for the South West region to identify solutions to reduce the impact of flooding on communities. Services provided will include appraisal and design of flood and coastal schemes; asset management support; and incident management support.

The work is worth around £60 million to Atkins over the next 8 years.

Mike McNicholas, Managing Director of Atkins’ Infrastructure division, said: “Our project teams will be harnessing existing digital tools and adopting new technology, as we work with the EA, our delivery partners and local communities to provide better flood protection and value for money, as well as long-lasting benefits for future generations.”

Toby Willison, Executive Director of Operations at the Environment Agency, said: “This ambitious new framework will help us to continue to deliver our £2.6 billion flood and coastal defense program in a way which ensures that sustainability, efficiency and value for money remain at the very heart of the work we do to protect people, homes and the environment.”

The new NGSA arrangements have been developed using the EA’s long experience in the Flood and Coastal Risk Management sector as well as learning from other leading public and private infrastructure providers.

The new arrangements promote innovative ways of collaborative working with delivery partners and local communities from the initial planning stages of a project right through to its completion.