Fairhaven to Church Scar scheme officially opened

Almost a year after the Fairhaven coastal protection project completed, the official ‘opening’ took place on 22 July. 

VBA, a joint venture between VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC Lavalin’s Atkins business, was awarded the £22m coastal protection project in 2017 by Fylde Council, to provide new coastal defences and upgraded promenades along the Fylde coast at Fairhaven, Church Scar and Granny’s Bay. 

The Fairhaven coastal protection scheme involved the replacement of the sea defence walls, as the existing coastal defences were time expired and had been failing.

Further to Fylde Council securing a £21.4m grant from the Environment Agency, VBA delivered the initial scope seven months early and £2.3m under the Project Appraisal Report estimate. This enabled the client to instruct £3.65m of additional work, including replacing the sea wall at Granny’s Bay.

VBA completed all the works under budget, and ahead of the contract completion date of December 2020. 

The scheme completed in May 2020; however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was not possible to hold an official opening event at the time. 

VBA joined council officials, including the Mayor and Council Leader, and officials from the Environment Agency, to officially cut the ribbon and mark the end of the heavily praised scheme.