Canvey Island sea defence project 'critical' for resident safety

A graphic of the refurbished defences, which will provide protection for 6,097 properties on the island until 2070

A £75m project to refurbish an island's sea defences against coastal erosion has been branded "critical" as works continue.

Tidal protection along a 3km (1.9 mile) stretch of Canvey Island, Essex, will be improved by the Environment Agency.

It said parts of the defences dated back to the 1930s and the latest upgrades would secure the coast until at least 2070.

"It is absolutely vital," operations manager James Mason said.

Work on the southern shoreline between Thorney Bay and the Island Yacht Club started in January 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2025.

Some of the flood defences on Canvey Island date back to the 1930s and need work

Mr Mason explained the work would take into account the effects of rising sea levels due to climate change.

He said the revetments would benefit from a "much more gentle slope" to ease the impact of waves upon them.

• LISTEN - £75m for new Canvey Island sea defences

"It is an extensive part of the coast; it's the most exposed part of the Canvey defences, so that's why that has really suffered the brunt of the wave action and why it's deteriorated quicker than other parts," Mr Mason said.

"Revetments, the bits that protect those defences from wave action, are actually starting to get into poor condition - they're deteriorating.

"In fact, back in 2014 we lost about an 80m section and that put it right back to the sheet piles and exposed those defences to potential breach."

Much of Canvey Island lies below the daily high-water level in the Thames Estuary.

The refurbished defences would provide protection for 6,097 properties on the island until 2070, the Environment Agency said.