Scheme Cost and Benefit

The benefits of the scheme include:

• Better protection from flooding of people and properties in Sanway.
• Improved recreational access to Common Meadows and Manor Farm.
• Biodiversity and habitat improvements.

Based on current information, we anticipate the scheme will cost in the region of £33 million. The cost of the scheme includes:

• Detailed design and planning application (including further surveys).
• Construction of the scheme.
• Maintenance of the scheme over the next 100 years.
• Contingency allowance for increases in costs as the scheme develops.

The Environment Agency, Surrey County Council, the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and the national government are all making considerable contributions to the scheme.

Reducing costs

In December, we held a cost reduction workshop with our project team and Surrey Wildlife Trust, who will be responsible for the site's 30-year Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) maintenance.

During the workshop, we identified a number of opportunities to reduce project costs by changing some of the design and delivery methods. We also found ways to improve parts of the scheme for stakeholders while keeping costs down.

Since then, the project team has carefully reviewed each option to understand its practicality, value for money, and any potential impacts. Where changes have been shown to save money without affecting the project's objectives, they have been included in the design.

Some of the main changes are listed below.

Design Changes

• Reduced the amount of cladding on the sheet pile wall. This will allow for maintenance to be carried out more easily and there is potential for the cladding to deteriorate over time so by reducing the amount we are reducing the amount of cladding that will need to be replaced.
• Removed the bird hide and replaced it with a bench and an information board.
• Updated the specification of furniture, such as benches, along the Garden Route.

Construction and Delivery

• Exploring whether the Bailey bridge can be removed and access provided through the south of the site instead. A Bailey bridge is a temporary steel bridge that can used to provide access for construction vehicles and equipment over the River Wey. 
• Looking at opportunities for volunteers to assist with planting.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

• Refined the BNG proposals to achieve as close as possible to the project's 20% strategic target.
• Removed the need for off-site watercourse BNG credits, making the legal agreement process simpler.
• Changed the management of one compensatory storage area to allow cattle grazing as part of its long-term maintenance.