We were delighted to work with Rother District Council and the architects DK-CM on the refurbishment and extension of the Camber Sands welcome centre and beach public toilets. The building provides a striking gateway to one of the UK’s busiest beaches and has featured in the Architectural Review and The Observer. Alongside its ambitious design it offers real value to the community and visitors, providing upgraded facilities for coastal officers, community space and vastly improved public toilet provision.

The project also provided an excellent opportunity to prioritise environmental performance, while being sensitive to the challenging coastal conditions of the site. We focused on developing a lean and sustainable timber structure that is capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions, with strong winds and constant exposure to salt spray and sand. The building achieved an A+ ‘SCORS’ rating from the IStructE in recognition of its extremely low embodied carbon - one of the first such ratings to be awarded for a public sector building in the UK.

LHE’s scope covered civil and structural engineering through planning, design and construction.