J.Murphy & Sons has won a multi-million pound contract to deliver one of the UK's largest water outfall pipe in Blackpool.

The Anchorsholme polyethelene outfall pipe scheme is part of a five-year £100 million investment by United Utilities. The programme aims to improve the bathing water quality along the Fylde Coast and is due for completion in December 2017

At 2.5m diameter and 3.7km in length, the outfall capacity is specifically designed to allow storm waters to flow far enough out to sea to prevent it affecting bathing water quality.

Planning, procurement and design works are now underway, with mobilisation on-site scheduled for March 2017.


The pipeline will be assembled off-site and towed to Blackpool for installation in August next year. Trench backfilling and diffuser installation works will then be carried out, while Murphy's LM Constructor work barge will be used for the marine operations such as installing hundreds of large concrete collars and ballast weights needed to ensure the stability of the pipeline.

Other construction works include building a 500m-long sheet piled cofferdam on the beach with dredging operations out to 3.7km offshore.

Jim Yerkess operations director for Murphy's natural resources team, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this contract, which is testament to the skills and experience of our marine services and the successful delivery of our other recent projects for United Utilities. We look forward to working with all the local stakeholders to successfully deliver the Anchorsholme long sea outfall project."

Previously, Murphy delivered the Harrowside outfall project for United Utilities in 2015. This project included hydraulic flow modelling for the pipeline and diffuser, design, assembly, installation and commissioning of a replacement for the dilapidated existing cast iron outfall pipe.

(Image: Work carried out by Murphy Natural Resources at Harrowside)

(LM/CD)