Photo: aerial view of Bacton Beach, courtesy of Coastal Partnership East

Created by the UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) the framework will focus on scientific research, monitoring, and evidence generation across key environmental areas like food, farming, air quality, water, biodiversity, and waste.

As a lead contractor for Lot 5.2, Haskoning will undertake research and development activities relating to water quality, water resources, coastal erosion risk management, and drinking water quality. The company has also been named sub-contractor for a section of the framework which focuses on evidence reviews in the same fields (Lot 5.1).

Haskoning has a strong history of project delivery for Defra, being involved in the department’s Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme and its ongoing work on historical coastal landfills, as well as leading flood defence asset management research and development and shoreline management planning for the Environment Agency.

Professor Natasha Barlow, Technical Director for Coastal Resilience at Haskoning said:

“This framework demonstrates Defra’s determination and commitment to climate resilience.

“As a company we have a strong reputation for tackling some of the most complex issues related to climate change, identifying where the research gaps lie, and embracing innovation. We are looking forward to helping the UK government understand key issues relating to water quality, resources and coastal erosion risk management, and supporting the development of actionable and appropriate solutions.”

Maximising results with streamlined partnerships

To deliver the framework projects, in-house experts in water and climate resilience at Haskoning will be working with a team of small and medium enterprises with specialist expertise, consisting of:

Risk and Policy Analysts

Eunomia

The Flood Hazard Research Centre at Middlesex University

Sayers and Partners

Rivelin Bridge

TJAY Consulting

Ric Eales Consulting

Enebio

The team will also draw upon Haskoning’s 140 years of best practice from across the full spectrum of engineering specialisms.

The framework, which goes live on 1st February, comprises of ten lots and represents a ceiling throughput of £192 million +VAT investment in scientific research and analysis across the 8 years.

In addition to the water and flood focused element, Haskoning has also been included as a sub-contractor on a further lot on water and flood, and on another section within the framework, regarding air quality analysis and expert services.