FP McCann Bespoke Precast Walls Installed on Largs Sea Defence Scheme

Project: Largs Sea Defence Wall Replacement

Client: North Ayrshire Council

Principle Designer: RPS Group

Principle Contractor: RJ McLeod Contractors LTD

FP McCann Products: Bespoke Precast Concrete Marine Grade Wall Units

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A £4.0 million project to upgrade a sea defence wall in the North Ayrshire town of Largs is nearing completion. The existing seawall originally constructed in the 1970’s had deteriorated over time and no longer provided the additional protection it was designed for.

Principal designer and coastal marine engineer RPS Group working on behalf of client North Ayrshire Council, determined that a 300 metres long bespoke design precast concrete wall encapsulating and extending along from the existing Largs Bay promenade seawall would provide the best form of protection from wave action and immediate coastal erosion.

Main contractor appointed on the project is Glasgow based building contractor and civil engineer RJ McLeod Contractors LTD. In consultation with the RPS Group engineers together with input from FP McCann’s specialist precast design team, a wall consisting of a wave reflecting curved top has been installed to the same height as the existing promenade wall, varying between 1.0m and 4.0m high along its length. The promenade itself has been widened following infill works between the existing and new walls. Prior to seawall works commencing, a temporary tide protection wall consisting of precast ‘lego’ blocks was put in place to allow for safe working

The FP McCann marine grade precast concrete wall units manufactured at the Company’s Uddingston factory in South Lanarkshire consist of a corrosion inhibiting admixture and abrasion resisting aggregate. In total,138 individual seawall units have been delivered by FP McCann and installed by the specialist RJ McLeod Contractors LTD contracting team; the smallest unit weighs 3.0 tonnes and the largest 22.50 tonnes.

Throughout the project, the seawall installation has been restricted to low tide windows, an added feature of the detailed programme of work. To complete the work, new beach access steps have been installed along the new seawall structure.

Stuart Laurence Project Manager for RJ McLeod Contractors LTD on the Largs Bay scheme says, “FP McCann worked closely with RJ McLeod Contractors Ltd and RPS Group to design and manufacture the precast concrete seawall structure. Close communication and coordination between supplier and contractor was vital to the project’s success, with deliveries and installation being determined by short tidal working windows. The consistency in quality of the wall units is evident throughout, demonstrating the benefits and advantages of using precast units.