Southgate Associates takes on the role of heritage consultant for a large number of infrastructure projects, advising on schemes in order to identify and protect valuable heritage assets. In providing such a collaborative approach within multi-disciplinary teams, Southgate Associates helps to lessen the potential negative impact of infrastructure projects on vulnerable heritage assets and landscapes, but also emphasises finding solutions to allow important projects to progress, where heritage considerations are creating blockages.
Such work includes such varied projects as flood relief schemes, new road and bypass schemes, rail line extensions, heritage bridges, piers, port complexes, and telecommunication interventions.
Recent key projects include acting as conservation engineer on the multi-disciplinary team devising the new Conservation Management Plan for Dublin Port, which include guidance on future proofing heritage structures such as the Great South Wall in the face of rising sea levels and increasingly violent storms. This enormous breakwater leading out from Poolbeg Harbour to Poolbeg Lighthouse, which spans the whole Port estate, protects all shipping entering Dublin Port, as well as providing an important amenity space for the city.
We are currently engaged in the 3FM project for the Dublin Port Company, where we provide the conservation engineering expertise on delivering the 3FM project, which is the final stage of the Dublin Port Company's Masterplan 2040. This involves the development of the South Port lands to accomplish a port output of 75 million tonnes per year, from the current 37.5 million.