Weston-super-Mare Sea Defences

Project: Sea Defences – Weston-super-Mare
Client: Birse Coastal
Value: £1.6m

Description:

EJ McGrath subcontracted to Birse Coastal as part of the £32m sea defence scheme as the paving and stone masonry contractor. On site for over two years, our role continually expanded from the initial stages though to completion of the project.

The main scope of the works included:

Paving

With over 13,000m2 of granite paving to complete on Weston Sea front, Birse Coastal had to ensure they were using a contractor they could trust and depend on to give a consistently high quality finish. The slabs are 60mm thick Chinese granite of various lengths, widths colours and surface finishes; all laid to strict ratios to conform to the visions of project artist John Maine RA.

Walling

There were various types of walling to complete on Weston sea front from cladding and coping the new engineered secondary splash wall to restoring and rebuilding Victorian walls using traditional materials and methods. The new secondary splash wall is over 2km long and has received a Blue Lias cladding to the seaward face, local reclaimed Mendip Limestone to the landward face and has been coped with Classach sandstone from Scotland

Seating

We have installed over 30 seats to Weston sea front, ranging from Limestone and Portland stone blocks to highly crafted granite seats with multiple pieces requiring precise fitting. Including one particularly special artistic piece at the ‘Waves’ slipway.