Norfolk: Cromer and Mundesley sea defences to be bolstered

The groynes at Cromer need repairing

Sea defences are set to be bolstered under new council plans.

North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) wants to install new defences along the shoreline around Cromer and Mundesley to reduce the risk of coastal erosion.

An application for the work is set to be discussed on 12 October by the council's planning committee.

Tim Adams, the Liberal Democrat council leader, said the works were "absolutely essential".

He said they would "enhance the existing sea defences and "ensure that they working to protect homes and businesses".

The Cromer scheme includes refurbishments to the timber groynes, navigation beacons and sea wall, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It would also see the construction of a "rock revetment" - a wall facing the sea to absorb the energy from waves - and remedial works to an access ramp on the western side of the town.

The application site covers 88 acres (36 hectares), the full Cromer frontage, over about one mile (1.6km).

Costs have risen to £25m and the council blamed it on inflation "dramatically pushing up prices"

A report to the council said: "The most significant works are taking place to the west of the pier, including the rock revetment, slope protection to a section of cliff to the southwest of the pier, rock transition structure, new ramp and apron encasement to the west side."

Plans for Mundesley also include remedial works to existing groynes and navigation beacons, seawalls and aprons.

Work will also see a "rock berm" - a barrier used to direct water away from a particular area - in front of an existing steel frame and an extension of an existing ramp on the east to allow access to the beach.

While the authority had previously expected the two schemes to cost about £14.1m, it said this had now risen to £25m, which it blamed on inflation "dramatically pushing up prices."