Hurst spit stabilisation: a partnering case study

Abstract

The stabilization of a 2 km shingle spit in southern England was initially planned as a traditional civil engineering contract. However, an unforseen delay at the start meant there was a real danger of not completing the work before winter storms, so a partnering approach was introduced - with successful results. This paper starts off by investigating the potential of partnering to achieve the UK's construction improvement targets. Using Hurst Spit as a case study it demonstrates that partnering can provide significant benefits for a one-off project without the need for formal agreements. It analyses in particular the culture changes which are required to achieve the full benefits of a partnering way of working