Lower Otter restoration project, Devon, UK

NEC has been used to restore 55 ha of intertidal habitat in Devon, UK. The Environment Agency and Clinton Devon Estates awarded the Lower Otter restoration project through its 2019–2027 NEC-based collaborative delivery framework to contractor Kier in July 2021. The £27 million NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) Option C (target contract with activity schedule) was completed on time and budget in September 2023.

The work involved breaching a two-century-old embankment west of the Otter estuary at Budleigh Salterton to reconnect the river with a 2.5 km long stretch of its historic floodplain. The contract included relocating a cricket club, protecting a landfill site from erosion, installing a 70 m long fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) footbridge over the embankment breach, diverting a 580 m length of sewer overflow, raising 0.5 km of road, providing more than 3 km of new and upgraded footpaths, and planting over 23,000 trees.

The project has compensated for nationally important intertidal saltmarsh and mudflat habitats which are being lost. These losses are the result of intertidal areas being reduced or between fixed defences around that coastline and the rising sea level resulting from climate change. The project also provided resilience to the natural environment and to the local community, enabling nature to adapt while either moving critical infrastructure out of the floodplain or protecting it within the floodplain. 

Birds now using the site include little egrets, avocets, glossy ibis, spoonbills and ospreys. The site has already been designated as a national nature reserve and will eventually become part of the Exe Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA). The Environment Agency was the client, Aecom was the NEC ECC project manager and the scheme designer was Jacobs.

The project won the Best Practice Large-Scale Mitigation, Compensation and Enhancement Award and the Tony Bradshaw Best Practice Award in the 2024 Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Awards. It was also Highly Commended for the Environmental Project of the Year in the 2024 British Construction Industry Awards and won the 2024 Institution of Civil Engineers South West Community Award.

Enhanced collaboration

Environment Agency project manager Dan Boswell says a key benefit of using NEC was enhanced collaboration encouraged by the requirement to ‘act in a spirit of mutual trust and co-operation’. ‘The contract fostered a co-operative environment which promoted transparency, with very clear channels of communication among the parties. The contractor provided weekly progress reports and there was transparent communication, ensuring everyone was on the same page. This greatly reduced misunderstandings and helped to resolve issues quickly.’  

He says prior to the main works starting, there was an early contractor involvement phase. ‘This meant that the Kier could provide valuable input to the design and help to identify potential issues before construction started, which led to a more efficient project execution. Once work started, NEC’s incorporation of an integrated programme was also a significant benefit. It encouraged good discipline about programme updating and acceptance, meaning this could be used to focus on the critical path and on how to achieve the project’s tight deadlines.’ 

Positive environment

Boswell says NEC promoted fair dealing and mutual respect, helping to create a positive working environment, improve morale, and enhance productivity and project outcomes. ‘Collaborative risk management also played a large part in the contract’s success, with the parties working together to identify, assess and mitigate risks early in the project. The NEC early warning mechanism allowed early identification of risks during the project to form the risk register, which the team then addressed on a regular basis to minimise impact to the project through early mitigation. This proactive approach helped prevent delays and cost overruns, ensuring smoother project delivery.’

He says NEC’s flexibility and adaptability were also beneficial. ‘The contract accommodated change and unknown factors well. Due to programme constraints, it was necessary to release the design and progress the works in phases, resulting in a significant amount of planned change. In addition, we encountered contaminated materials, unexpected environmental constraints and adverse weather, but the contract allowed all levels of change to be introduced with minimal disruption.’ 

In terms of learning, Boswell says, the flexibility of NEC allowed the project team to share in the savings achieved through innovations relating to the use of earth haul roads and site reuse of materials. 

Benefits of using NEC

• NEC requirement to ‘act in a spirit of mutual trust and co-operation’ fostered a collaborative working environment which promoted transparency and provided clear channels of communication.
• NEC programming requirements meant the project team could focus on the critical path and on how to achieve the project’s tight deadlines.
• NEC promoted fair dealing and mutual respect, helping to create a positive working environment, improve morale, and enhance productivity and project outcomes. 
• NEC early warning mechanism enabled the parties to work together to identify, assess and mitigate risks early in the project to minimise their impact. 
• NEC’s flexibility and adaptability accommodated changes arising from the phased release of design information and unexpected events during construction.