A new sea defences project in Southsea, worth £100 million, has appointed a joint venture as the main contractor. The Southsea Coastal Scheme will provide flood protection to more than 8,000 properties and 704 businesses at risk, due to ageing existing coastal defences along 4.5km of Solent coastline.

VSBW is a joint venture between VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster, with both businesses having been formed in the UK in the 1930s and previously joined forces for the likes of the £115 million Dover Western Docks Revival scheme.

“We have been impressed with the quality of work put into the Scheme already and are looking forward to getting on site and delivering new defences for Southsea,” said Rob Coupe, on behalf of VSBW.

The tender for construction works was issued to a shortlist of three contractors, all of whom were selected following an open-market supplier selection process, which evaluated the experience and capacity of each company to deliver this large-scale complex project.

Following the initial process, Bam Nuttall, Van Oord/Mackley and VSBW were identified as the shortlisted companies to compete in a further multi-stage selection process to identify the successful bidder.

VSBW will promptly join the project team, providing assistance to the council and newly-appointed design consultant, Royal HaskoningDHV, with input into the detailed engineering design, pre-construction site surveys and enabling works ahead of construction on the first phase which will begin in early 2020 should planning and funding approvals be gained.

Councillor Dave Ashmore, cabinet member for environment and climate change at Portsmouth City Council, also added: “This intensive procurement process has allowed us to identify a very capable, proven contractor who will now be at the helm of delivering this very important piece of work for Portsmouth.

“The integrated project team will continue to engage with the public throughout what will be an exciting project.”