A section of Hove beach will extend another 25 metres out to sea if a new set of groynes are built by the King Alfred Centre.
The new groyne field is the latest stage of a multi-million pound project to combat coastal erosion along the Sussex coast.
Brighton and Hove City Council has submitted an application for nine new timber groynes – the vertical barriers extending from the beach which catch shingle – from the King Alfred to Second Avenue.
If approved, the bays between each groyne will be filled with thousands of tonnes of shingle, taken from a licensed dredging site in the English Channel.
The field will help slow the movement of shingle along that part of the coastline, helping to protect the area from flooding and erosion. It will also reduce the amount of shingle which washes up onto the promenade during storms and high tides.
If approved, work is scheduled to get underway in 2025 and scheduled to finish in summer 2026.
Work has already been done to build two rock armour revetments, a protective layer of rock, adjacent to Basin Road South. A new sea wall has also been built near the Hove Deep Sea Anglers Club.
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport, Parking and Public Realm, said: “This project is vital in helping to protect the city from the long-term risks of flooding and coastal erosion.
“The impact of climate change means we need to act against rising sea levels to protect homes and businesses. The new groyne field and wider beach will help to do that and significantly reduce the amount of shingle that washes up onto the promenade every year.
“This will mean a more accessible prom and a larger beach for our residents and visitors.”
The work is part of a long-term project, called the Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme.
Working in partnership with Adur District Council, Shoreham Port, the Environment Agency and the Western Esplanade Management Company, its aim is to improve our coastal defences along a 10km stretch between Brighton Marina and the River Adur.
It’s primarily funded by the Environment Agency, however all the partners have an interest in maintaining the frontage, and so are also paying a proportional amount for their respective frontage.
What modelling has been done to ensure that this type protection will help. You really should protect the whole hove beach area. If you only make changes in one area, the issue moved to another area in Hove or Brighton.
This IS a part of a project to protect the coast between Adur and the Marina
So yes the modelling has been done as the Environment Agency wouldn’t have provided the funding without it being done.
Good point. There needs to be joined up thinking when it comes to coastal defences. I am wondering if it is to try and sell off the public beach to build 700 flats in towerblocks on the current King Alfred leisure centre. They will then need protect that area and also kid the residents they have not stolen any public beach into the bargain because they have replaced it.
Again you fail to read the article and comments Barry before chiming in.
This IS part of a wider coastal protection scheme.
And no this isn’t part of any plan to sell off the beach and build 700 flats.
So you will have to walk further to get to the actual sea but at least you can have umpteen coffees and a pop-up snack when they start extending onto the shingle!
Well done ChrisC for correcting and disputing the comments on this item and others, makes a change from the usual sarcasm. I could be equally sarcastic about our much heralded Labour government…….
I find Chris brings an strong reasoned and researched view to many conversations. An aspect I try to emulate in my own discussions.