Plans to protect Shoreham and Southwick get go-ahead
Released: Monday, 12 June 2023
Plans to improve coastal defences in Shoreham on Basin Road South to give residents and businesses better protection from the sea have been given the green light.
A protective layer of rock will be built on part of the seafront on the adjoining edge of the beach on Basin Road South in front of Barrett Steel and Solent Wharf at Shoreham Port.
It will be approximately 740 metres in length, between 8.6 and 11.8 metres in depth and will range from two to three metres in height.
The work is part of a larger project known as the Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (FCERM) to improve the town's defences from rising sea levels, flooding and coastal erosion.
Steve Neocleous, Adur District Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategic Planning, said:
“Climate change is having a real impact on rising sea levels on our coastline and rivers and it is imperative we try to guard as best we can against this to protect residents and businesses.
“This long-term project is hugely important in helping safeguard the town's economy now and into the future and by working with other partners we hope this can do just that.”
The scheme includes six different locations within Shoreham and Brighton and this particular scheme is designed to offer more protection to land in Adur from the threat of erosion, including residential areas, Southwick Beach car park and local businesses.
As part of the plans there will also be a new three-metre wide footpath stretching approximately 545 metres in length, as well as a new beach access ramp and steps at locations yet to be decided. The current footpath will be unaffected during construction.
Some of the existing timber and steel groynes which are no longer effective on Southwick Beach will be removed.
This long-term project sees Adur District Council working in partnership with Shoreham Port, the Environment Agency, Brighton & Hove City Council as the lead authority and Western Esplanade Management Company.
The proposed rock revetments, which are set to be delivered from the Lydd Ranges Sea Defence scheme in Kent, will arrive either by barge or by road.
While they will be noticeable, they will fit with existing rock defence elements elsewhere along the front and people's views will not be obscured.
Photo: Southwick Beach (one of the wooden groynes)
Photo: Southwick Beach (looking east)
Photo: Southwick Beach (looking west)
(PR23-076)
Page last updated: 18 April 2024