Pioneering shell concrete could help prevent floods

The shells being used are set for landfill

A pioneering project is making an eco-friendly concrete from crushed shells that would otherwise be set for landfill - and could help prevent flooding.

A team at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have developed the sustainable concrete which is made from crushed scallop and whelk shells sourced from Fleetwood.

By using the shells, which would usually be discarded by fishmongers, the concrete would allow water to drain through it, and could be used for footpaths, car parks and gardens to alleviate flooding.

It is being tested in the garden of People's Pantry, a community food initiative, in Blackpool, which is prone to flooding.

The eco-friendly concrete allows water to drain through it

Scallops and whelks are often removed from their shells by fishmongers before they are sold.

Usually, these shells are then crushed and sent to landfill, but the project would give them another use.

Prof Karl Williams, who is leading the project, said: "When it rains, the water will permeate through and then will dissipate into ground so stopping flooding and this particular garden area was very prone to flooding."

"We have to wash them and crush them and then we have to sieve them to the right size, so that they can go into the concrete."

UCLan wants companies to look at using this as a way of preventing flooding and also stop millions of tonnes of shells discarded by the seafood industry going into landfill.

As well as the community garden at the People's Pantry in the Bostonway area of Blackpool, extensive trials are being done at the university in test tanks.

Prof Karl Williams says the concrete made of shells could be used for footpaths, car parks and gardens

Arts company Leftcoast designed and built the People's Pantry which has a community pantry and garden space where residents can grow their own produce.

"We needed a flooring that would be something which would be slip and trip proof," Helen Jones of Leftcoast said.

"We've also got waterlogging locally, or was prior to sorting out the garden now, so it needed to tick that box as well."

She said they also needed a ramp for accessibility.

"The fact that it also takes shells from a local fishing industry and stops it going to landfill and repurposes it fits with everything else we've been doing inside."

Maggie Gregson, a Bostonway resident, said the shells had made a big difference to the community garden.

"It was bad before because it kept flooding - we were walking about in mud.

"We were doing some tests the other week and we were pouring water in... and it works.

"I think it's an absolutely brilliant idea."