ABPmer HELPS SECURE PLANNING PERMISSION FOR CREATION OF NEW COASTAL HABITAT

ABPmer, Associated British Ports’ marine environment research subsidiary, has helped secure planning permission for the creation of 108 hectares of new coastal habitat on Wallasea Island on Crouch Estuary in Essex. ABPmer provided the scientific research that supported DEFRA’s European Wildlife Division‘s application to the Planning Authority to grant permission for the scheme.

ABPmer conducted a series of assessments and a number of detailed modelling studies to produce a scientific assessment of the likely impact the scheme would have on the surrounding environment. ABPmer also produced innovative computer-generated 3-D images to demonstrate what the proposed changes to the island’s coastline would look like. 

The project, which is the largest of its kind within Europe, is being driven by DEFRA’s European Wildlife Division and Wallasea Farms Ltd, the island’s owners. ABPmer’s contribution to the project drew great praise from the project leaders. A spokesman for DEFRA said:

“Compared with similar projects we have been involved in, ABPmer has performed better than other consultants, with the environmental statement and hydrodynamic assessments being the best we’ve ever had. The computer visualisation also went a long way in assisting with obtaining all consents, licences and planning permission.”

ABPmer also recently received high praise for an innovative study carried out on behalf of Heathrow Airport Fuel Company Ltd (HAFCo). ABPmer’s expertise was enlisted by HAFCo to satisfy the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) ‘Control of Major Accident Hazards’ legislation relating to catastrophic failure of aviation fuel-storage facilities.

Working closely with HAFCo, ABPmer was able to demonstrate to the HSE that a major catastrophic release of aviation fuel could be successfully contained. Staff at ABPmer built a scale model to simulate accurately the hydraulic characteristics of a fuel spill from a major event, such as an aeroplane crash, and its subsequent progress away from the fuel-storage facilities. The high level of detail in the model made the fine-tuning of the containment-structure designs possible.

Ian Townend, ABPmer’s Managing Director, said:

“These projects gave us the opportunity to demonstrate our technical expertise in these complex fields of study.Both studies required us to develop a close working relationship with the organisations involved. The positive feedback we have received reflects the strength of the team at ABPmer and our ability to work constructively with clients.”

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