Local authority backing for the stalled Brighton sewer on Englands south coast has given a boost to the possible resurrection of the scheme.
East Sussex County Council has given its support to the wastewater treatment scheme that would see approximately 11km of tunnel excavation and major shaft sinking.
The project developer, the utility Southern Water, hopes that the council’s support for the latest proposals for the scheme will help bring the backing of the Government. Last year, government ministries refused permission for the project over concerns about environmental and aesthetic aspects of the treatment works.
There were no issues with the 2.4m i.d. segmentally-lined sewer tunnel but the design and build contract (IChemE ‘Burgandy Book’) could not go ahead. By then, the client had shortlisted two joint ventures – AMG (Black & Veatch plus Morgan Est and then Amec, before it joined with Morgan Est), and 4D (Costain, United Utilities and MWH). The plan for the tunnelling works is to have the sewer excavated in two drives, from Ovingdean and Peacehaven.
Brighton’s new sewer scheme has suffered a number of development setbacks, and the proposal that was rejected last year was itself a re-submission made in 2006. The first effort to get the job underway was in 1998.
However, there have been some tunnelling works associated with the scheme. Last year, a precursor job involved Amec driving a very short drive to tap a live sewer at Blackrock (T&TI, September 2007, p10).
The project needs to be constructed to meet EU sewage treatment standards. The proposed treatment plant is to be sited at Peacehaven, and the scheme will also involve construction of three pumping stations and a long sea outfall.
