Jacobs Engineering has been appointed to design flood defences to protect over 1,000 homes in the area from rising sea levels.
The council has had plans for this project in place since 2002, but said the increasing sea levels and higher wave heights necessitated a complete redesign of the long-awaited project.
In 2009, it was announced that flood defences would be introduced along the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) cycleway. While work began on the north side of Dublin Bay, no progress has yet been made in Sandymount.
However, the Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA) has welcomed the latest news as a “step forward” in addressing the significant risk to homes in the area.
“SAMRA looks forward to supporting this work and ensuring the final design reflects the interests of local residents,” a spokesperson said.
“It urges that the project moves forward with urgency and the construction phase begins as soon as possible.”
The contract includes a “comprehensive study” of the risks posed to the Sandymount community one of the most vulnerable areas in the city from both coastal and pluvial flooding.
“I am pleased to announce this morning that Dublin City Council has awarded a contract to Jacobs to design the Sandymount Flood Defence Scheme,” said the Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan.
Plans for the Sandymount Coastal Flood Defence Scheme were first outlined in 2002
“This is a major step forward in defending the Sandymount coastline against flooding. It is great to see progress finally being made on this long-overdue infrastructural project.
“Today’s announcement paves the way for the early construction of the flood-relief scheme and provides a clear direction for the community and homeowners who currently cannot obtain home insurance in the area,” he added.
The engineers have been tasked with designing works and measures to protect the community from current risks, with those works to be as adaptable as possible to safeguard against “medium and long-term risks” related to climate change.
A key requirement of the designs is to minimise their environmental impact, including on the various Natura 2000 sites for which Dublin Bay is designated.
The council also outlined that “opportunities to enhance public amenity and provide co-benefits shall be explored”, wherever possible.
“With the awarding of this design contract, we are working towards the protection of the Sandymount community from the known risks of coastal and pluvial flooding, which are further exacerbated by the effects of climate change,” said John Flanagan, Assistant Chief Executive.
Jacobs said it will engage and consult with the public, stakeholders, and other parties on behalf of Dublin City Council throughout the life of the project, to facilitate two-way communication.
This contract is fully funded by the Office of Public Works (OPW) as part of their Flood Relief Programme under the National Development Plan 2021-2030.
“Jacobs brings extensive experience in long-term resilience solutions to support Dublin City Council on the Sandymount Flood Defence Scheme,” said Jacobs Senior Vice President, Kate Kenny.
“We look forward to working together to safeguard the coastline and community from the effects of sea level rise and climate change for years to come.”
