A GROUND-BREAKING scheme to stabilise cliffs between Dawlish and Holcombe is in the running for a prestigious engineering award.

The ambitious £32 million Network Rail project to protect the vital rail link below the cliffs has been shortlisted for the Institution of Civil Engineers South West Civil Engineering Awards 2025, and the public can vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice Award.

This is the latest accolade for the decade-long scheme to repair and future-proof the iconic coastal railway line since the devastating storm of 2014.

This part of the project stabilised 1.2km of steep, geologically sensitive coastal cliffs above the main railway line between Dawlish and Holcombe.

It involved dividing the cliffs into nine behavioural units and installing 6.200 soil nails totalling 60km in length along with 21,000 sq m of cliff netting.

Working in a harsh marine environment, teams used rope access drilling on near vertical faces up to 40m high with up to 18 cliff mounted rigs operating simultaneously

A key innovation was the development of a new combination bar solution which reduced embodied carbon and saved more than £7million allowing the full stop to be delivered despite inflationary pressures.

Remarkably the works were completed without disrupting rail services even during one of the wettest winters on record

The project has helped protect local homes supported more than 250 jobs and included a skills development programme for local college students.

It now provides a 100 year design life ensuring long-term resilience for this stretch of railway.

The scheme was carried out by contractors BAM Nuttall, Tony Gee and Partners and Network Rail.

Last year, another part of the scheme won an award.

The £42 million Parsons Tunnel Rockfall Shelter scheme won the title of best new build project over £10million at the ICE South West awards 2024.

The project involved construction of a 110m-long protective structure next to Parsons Tunnel at Holcombe to prevent boulders and cliff debris falling onto the railway.

The shelter was built to withstand the impact of a five tonne boulder falling from the cliff face above

The cliff stabilisation project is one of 12 in the running for this year’s regional ICE award.

The projects reflect the region’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience, and community-focused design.

Each scheme demonstrates how civil engineering is improving life in the South West—whether through safer travel, environmental protection, or flood mitigation

Miranda Housden, ICE South West Regional Director, said: 'This award is a brilliant opportunity for everyone to recognise the civil engineering projects that shape and strengthen our communities.

'These schemes often go unseen, yet they have a profound impact on our daily lives.

‘Civil engineering is at the heart of building a safer, more connected, and more sustainable future.’