Cardiff Coastal Protection Scheme

LOCATION:

Cardiff, South Wales

Coasts & Ports

The Cardiff Coastal project, valued at £29.9 million, aims to improve and extend coastal defences in the east of Cardiff. It spans the coastline between the Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water wastewater treatment works and the Lamby Way landfill site, as well as along the River Rhymney.

The existing defences are at significant risk of failure and no longer provide adequate flood protection, especially with rising sea levels.

Divided between five locations, the project comprises:

Installing a 1500m rock armour system along the Severn Estuary.
Forming an earth embankment for flood prevention along Rover Way Road.
Installing Dycel revetment alongside the river passing Queens Roundabout.
Constructing an earth embankment between the A4232 and Lamb Way roads.
A second earth embankment similar in construction to the above.

The Cardiff coastal project will not only address immediate risks but also ensure long-term sustainability and resilience for the community and the environment.

Challenges

Environmental impact.
Presence of invasive species.
Ecological sensitivity.

Name Surname
Job role on project

Solutions

Including measures to minimise environmental impact, such as:

Installing rock armour from the toe upwards to reduce marine life disruption.
Using local plants for topsoil cultivation to maintain environmental consistency.
Limiting construction activities during nesting and spawning seasons to protect fish and bird species.

Implementing a risk assessment and method statement to manage and prevent the spread of Japanese knotweed.

The site includes several protected areas: Severn Estuary SSSI, Ramsar site, Special Area of Conservation, and Special Protection Area. Measures are in place to protect these areas and the species within them, including limiting work during sensitive periods and providing ecological training to the workforce.

Pre-construction checks for reptiles and two-stage strimming for ground vegetation clearance to safely disperse reptiles.

Strictly confining site personnel and vehicles to agreed boundaries to avoid impacting designated habitats.