Flood defence work to begin on shingle beaches

The work is described as a new shingle management approach

Work will begin on shingle beaches around Eastbourne next year to protect homes and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion, the Environment Agency has said.

The work starting in 2025 will include improvements to the beach design and repairs to wooden groynes on beaches in Pevensey Bay, Sovereign Harbour and Eastbourne.

The agency said 10,000 properties, along with key infrastructure, heritage sites and conservation areas in East Sussex, would be better protected over the next 15 years.

Sussex flood risk manager Nick Gray said more details on the beach improvements would be shared this autumn, when further design work had been completed.

Climate change

Mr Gray said the beach improvements would not be significantly different from the current beach management but had been chosen as the best options.

“By 2100, sea levels are predicted to have risen by 1.15 metres [3ft 9in] and storms are expected to become increasingly intense and frequent,” he said.

“These beach improvement works mark the start of the long-term plan to manage this increasing flood risk for the coastline between Holywell in Eastbourne to Cooden Beach, east of Pevensey Bay.”

Mr Gray added: “Homes and businesses will be better protected from flooding, but this is just the beginning of a longer strategy that will manage the increasing flood and erosion risks that climate change will bring over the next century.”