There are now two companies left in the race for the first phase of major flood defences programme for the Thames Estuary.

The final two companies in the running for the programme are US-based engineering operations CH2M Hill and Jacobs – who have been selected before rival bid-teams Morgan Sindall, Mace/Atkin and Costain.

The Thames Estuary Phase 1 Programme will see a series of major flood protection work being carried out over a decade which will see The Environment Agency piloting new longer term working arrangements in order to drive down costs.

The Environment Agency is aiming to announce the winner of the bid in the next month or so according to the bid timetable. The programme will cover the Tidal Thames which stretches from Teddington in West London through to Sheerness and Shoeburyness in Kent and Essex.

The flood protection construction will include defensive walls, embankments and active asserts including barriers and other structures with moveable gates, outfalls as well as pumping stations.

The Thames Barrier and the flood management infrastructure associated with it protects around 1.25m people as well as some £200bn worth of property, the UK Government and major infrastructure and businesses.