Selsey West Beach Urgent Works

Overview

The Selsey peninsula is an exposed coastline with a long history of managing coastal flood and erosion risk. Coastal defences reduce the risk of coastal flooding and erosion to the town of Selsey. Many of the defences were constructed in the 1950's and have reached, or are reaching, the end of their design life. In May 2024, the Council secured Grant in Aid (GiA) funding to undertake the option appraisal and outline design stage of the Selsey Coastal Scheme, which forms part of a 3.5-year programme of work. Following completion, the Scheme will be required to progress through two further approval gateways to secure additional GiA funding - the Outline Business Case and the Full Business Case. Construction is not anticipated to commence until 2030 at the earliest, subject to securing the necessary approvals and funding at each gateway. A ~250m section of coastal defences at the western end of the scheme study area (end of West Street, West Beach) is showing signs of deterioration. This section has previously required emergency repair works on two occasions, in2007 and 2023. Due to the age and condition of the existing structures, the potential failure of these coastal defences prior to the delivery phase of the Scheme represents a key strategic risk. The consequence of losing the existing sea defences, either in part or in full, would increase the cost of delivering the future Scheme as the existing structures will be relied upon to maintain the current defence line and provide the 'foundations' for new works. Therefore, urgent works are being progressed as a strategic risk mitigation action and long-term enabling measure for the Scheme.