VolkerStevin, alongside joint venture partners Boskalis Westminster and Atkins have won the contract to rebuild sea defences from Clacton Pier to Holland Haven.

The scheme, designed by project manager Mott MacDonald, will protect more than 3,000 homes and businesses for the next 100 years.

The VBA joint venture is due to begin in June and carry on throughout the summer and into autumn.

It will start up again in spring 2015 and should be completed in the autumn of next year.

Nick Turner, Tendring District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Coast Protection, said the signing of the contract is a major milestone in the overall programme.

“It will get off the ground earlier than expected and will be completed in around 18 months – which is much quicker than we originally anticipated.

“Not only will residents see activity on site within weeks they will also have their vastly improved beaches and defences in place sooner than was ever thought possible.”

Will Shields from VBA’s National Framework Team, said: “VBA look forward to working with Tendring District Council in delivering the multiple benefits that the project will bring to the communities of Clacton and Holland-on-Sea.”

The scheme involves demolishing a number of existing timber and concrete groynes along the frontage and building 22 fishtail groynes and a terminal groyne in their place.

The plans also include a beach recharge of around 950,000 cubic metres of material with rocks being brought in by sea from Norway.