Purpose

Due to failure of part of the face of the sea
wall in Harwich between The Spa and Stone Point, significant
voiding has been exposed below the promenade. This needs to be
addressed quickly in order to mitigate the issue and protect from
further failure. A consulting structural engineer and a coastal
engineer have both agreed that we try a lightweight geopolymer
solution to address the voiding, with a note of caution that it
should be carried out by an experienced provider. Geobear have
carried out this type of coastal work in other areas of the country
and have successfully delivered underpinning using geopolymer for
Tendring District Council.
Geopolymer is applied without having to excavate the promenade, one
borehole for an application tube and one for a monitoring camera in
the area of the void is all that is required, saving money on
reinstatement cost as well as minimal impact on public use of the
area.
Geopolymer is lightweight, not affected by water and cures in 4 -
10 minutes meaning large voids can be filled quickly. This is very
beneficial in locations where the tide is a factor.
An agreement from the Corporate Director for Operations and
Delivery and the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for
Finance and Governance has been obtained to grant a procurement
exemption under Section 2.1 (c) of Part 5 of the Council's
constitution.

Content

To appoint Geobear to carry out void filling
in the Harwich Promenade using geopolymer.