皇冠体育app

In a UK first, the Environment Agency, BAM Nuttall, Arup and Tarmac have successfully trialled the use of two low carbon concrete mixes for works at the Hexham Flood Alleviation Scheme.

皇冠体育app low-carbon concrete has been used across 3 panels, totalling 27 metres of the 拢6.5 million Hexham flood defences as part of a plan to reduce their carbon footprint, the Environment Agency (EA) has said.

Hexham is a popular tourist destination in Northumberland with visitors able to observe salmon leaping at the masonry arch bridge, dating back to 1793.聽 皇冠体育app Hexham flood alleviation scheme will help to protect up to 90 properties in one of the town鈥檚 most important commercial areas, providing increased job security by protecting the places people work, keeping businesses open and supporting the wider local economy.

皇冠体育app flood alleviation scheme is almost complete on the south bank at Tyne Mills Industrial Estate and features a new structure installed across the Skinnersburn which would also stop the River Tyne backing up when levels are high. 皇冠体育app improvement works to the north bank at Bridge End Industrial estate consist of flood walls and embankment as well as featuring the sections of low carbon concrete at the former Reiver Sports site.

皇冠体育app EA say that more than half of its carbon footprint comes from the construction of flood defences. Using low carbon concrete, such as a new Portland limestone mix, developed by Tarmac, will improve Hexham鈥檚 resilience to the changing climate while also playing an important part of the organisation鈥檚 steps towards Net Zero targets.

So far, the trial has presented positive carbon savings compared to a standard concrete mix offering up to 70% reductions of CO2 emissions per cubic metre of concrete delivered to site.

It is hoped that the trials to find new ultra-low-carbon concrete alternatives, will enable future Environment Agency flood defences across the North East to be built more sustainably, with lower embodied carbon. 皇冠体育appy will also support the delivery of new sustainable concrete products, to the wider construction industry and help to achieve targets outlined in the Net Zero North East England partnership. This collaboration between local government, business, education, the public sector and civil society aims to drive a comprehensive regional approach to tackling the climate emergency.

Leila Huntington, Environment Agency Operations Manager, said:

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp Environment Agency is committed to helping the nation be more resilient to flooding, coastal change, drought and climate change. We all have a role to play in tackling the climate emergency which is why the Environment Agency has committed to reaching Net Zero by 2030. To achieve this we have to adapt, try innovative approaches and ensure that climate and sustainability are at the heart of what we do.

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp trial of low carbon concrete in Hexham is a fantastic example of how we can work with our partners to continue to build flood defences to better protect communities from flooding, whilst also focussing on sustainability, the environment and reducing our carbon emissions.鈥�

Ruth Young, area carbon and sustainability lead for BAM, said:

鈥淎s the Environment Agency鈥檚 construction partner in the North East, we are carefully considering how we can limit the environmental impact of the flood defence work we deliver without compromising the strength and resilience of these structures.

鈥淲e identified Tarmac鈥檚 new low-carbon concrete mixes as innovative products, which have the potential to reduce our overall carbon impact across the framework.

鈥淲e are working closely with the Environment Agency, Arup and Tarmac, to ensure the materials can be approved for use and look forward to seeing these being used on more civil engineering schemes in the future.鈥�

Robert聽Gossling,聽head of聽commercial聽engineering聽solutions at Tarmac, said:

鈥淭his聽flood defence聽project聽in Hexham highlights聽the clear聽sustainability聽benefits which can be聽achieved聽when clients and contractors聽work in partnership, in this case engaging to help understand聽the benefits聽and reduce the concrete carbon footprint聽of聽the Environment Agency. 皇冠体育app testing comparisons will help build confidence聽in these new products.

鈥淎gainst the backdrop of聽a聽climate emergency, the use of聽these聽mixes聽marks another聽important step聽for the UK concrete and cement industry聽along its聽path聽to聽net zero.聽We鈥檙e聽committed to聽demonstrating聽innovation in low carbon solutions, and we hope that聽the success of this trial will help accelerate adoption of this and other types of new, sustainable concretes聽鈥� delivering long-term benefits for the industry.鈥�