Balfour Beatty Appointed as Civil Contractor to £300 Million Thames Estuary Asset Management Programme

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today announces it has been appointed as the civil contractor for an integrated team that will deliver the ten-year Thames Estuary Asset Management Programme for CH2M Hill, on behalf of the Environment Agency, and anticipated to be worth up to £250 million to Balfour Beatty.

The £300 million programme is the largest single flood risk asset management programme ever awarded in the UK. It is designed to manage and deliver capital investment works to the Thames tidal flood defences along the 170km length of the Thames Estuary, protecting 1.25 million people from flooding risk across Kent, Essex and London and £200 billion worth of property, UK government assets, major infrastructure and businesses.

The programme will involve creating tidal walls and embankments, refurbishing works of active assets, (including major flood barriers), new assets such as pumping stations, capital renewals and replacements. Packages of major or complex maintenance works will include repairing fixed flood defence walls or subsidence of earth embankments. CH2M Hill leads the programme supported by delivery partner Balfour Beatty and a number of other specialist suppliers.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty's Group Chief Executive, said: "We look forward to being part of an integrated team that will deliver this vital programme along the Thames Estuary. Balfour Beatty is bringing significant expertise in flood defence to protect one of the world's greatest cities from the sea. And, with our partners we will offer long-term, skilled, opportunities to the next generation of civil engineers."

Individual projects are expected to be awarded from the third quarter of this year with each expected to be worth up to £10 million in value.

Analyst/investor enquiries:
Peter Young/ Anoop Kang
Tel. +44 (0)20 7216 6913

Media enquiries:
Dominic Cheetham
Tel. +44 (0)20 7963 4235
dominic.cheetham@balfourbeatty.com

Notes to editors:

1. The programme is funded by a combination of a £250million Flood Defence Grant in Aid contribution and £50million which is being raised by CH2M Hill.

2. Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group. With 36,000 employees, we provide innovative and efficient infrastructure that underpins our daily lives, supports communities and enables economic growth. We finance, develop, build and maintain complex infrastructure such as transportation, power and utility systems, social and commercial buildings.

Our main geographies are the UK, US, Middle East and South East Asia. Over the last 100 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world including the London

3. Balfour Beatty's recent track record in UK coastal protection and flood defence works includes 21 significant projects for local authorities and the Environment Agency, including the £86m Rossall and Anchorsholme Scheme, the £5m River Mersey Flood Defence Scheme, the £22m Humber Flood Prevention Package and the £6m Lincshore Beach Replenishment five year scheme. Balfour Beatty is also carrying out the £1.2m Hightown Coastal Defences Phase 2 scheme for Sefton Borough Council. Recently completed work includes the £9m Lyme Regis Coast Defence scheme and the £12m Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme.