Coastal project keeps Norfolk’s tourism industry above water

A coastal defence programme protecting 1,200 homes and businesses from erosion and flooding has taken home a top prize at the ICE East of England Merit Awards 2025.

The Cromer and Mundesley Protection Scheme secured the Best Infrastructure Project – Large Award for its approach to defending two popular Norfolk seaside locations.

The £45m programme installed rock revetments (the layer covering embankments) and repaired existing sea walls and navigation beacons to boost these towns' climate resilience.

The Balfour Beatty scheme was among the winning projects and individuals announced at the awards ceremony, held on 11 September at the University of Arms Hotel in Cambridge.

Best Project – Asset Resilience

Greater Anglia’s Station Condition and Hidden Critical Element Survey won the Best Project Award for asset resilience.

Delivered by RBA Engineering Consultancy, this assessment programme uses cutting-edge digital technology to identify structural weaknesses before they become critical. This helps ensure passenger safety across the rail network.

Through advanced sensors and data analytics, it enables predictive maintenance to take place (as opposed to reactive).

This extends the lifetime of the assets on the network (for example, bridges and stations) and reduces costs.

Furthermore, by using drones, the scheme was able to inspect hard to reach areas safely, while also removing the need for scaffolding to go up.

Best Project – Sustainability

Reducing carbon emissions by 40% while improving the reliability of water supplies won the Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) the Best Project Award for sustainability.

The SPA is creating hundreds of kilometres of new interconnecting pipelines across Anglian Water's region. The aim is to boost its resilience to drought by securing water supplies for future generations.

The alliance model between project partners - which included Costain, Farrans, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald Bentley - demonstrated how working together can deliver environmental and economic benefits.

Team of the Year

The Team of the Year Award went to Morgan Sindall Construction for its work on the University of Hertfordshire's Spectra Building.

The new five-storey, steel-framed structure houses engineering, computer science, physics, astronomy and mathematics departments.

Open-plan spaces support collaboration, moving away from traditional ‘us and them’ ways of working.

The project team’s interdisciplinary approach delivered state-of-the-art research facilities that demonstrate how sustainable design and cutting-edge technology can create inspiring learning environments.

The structure achieved the BREEAM sustainable building certification while providing flexible spaces for future research needs.

Recognising talent

Rising Star of the Year

Amy Pymont, an engineer at AECOM, claimed Rising Star of the Year.

Pymont balanced her academic studies with full-time employment, graduating with first-class honours in 2024.

She has also made a significant impact beyond her role, volunteering her time to support and inspire over 200 students through careers fairs, CV workshops, and mock interviews.

Mentor of the Year

Tony Gee’s Paul Pankhurst earned the Mentor of the Year Award.

Pankhurst enjoyed the mentorship of the company founders, which supported him on his journey from apprentice to group director and partner.

He is now returning the favour, sharing insights from his 25 years of experience in civil engineering with emerging talent.

ICE President Professor Jim Hall presented awards to the projects and professionals shaping a more resilient future for the East of England.

Find out more about the award winners