Coastal flood defence project moves into final phase

The North Portsea Coastal Scheme final phase will complete the last 200m of sea defence wall between the Langstone Harbour viewing car park to Tangiers Road in Portsmouth.

“The North Portsea Coastal Scheme continues to be at the forefront of environmental enhancements, with a highlight being the construction of an island near Eastern Road to ensure that overwintering birds can roost undisturbed,” said Portsmouth City Council Leader, Cllr Steve Pitt.

“We look forward to the final touches being complete in what has been a significant enhancement project for this area, both in terms of flood defences and beautification of the area for recreational use.”

Long project

Other objectives this year include raising the remaining areas along the wall to ensure a 1.2m height and increasing foreshore habitat between the new sea wall and Cockleshell Island by moving the wall further inland.

Landscaping, wildflower seeding and planting of more trees will also take place, more than 200 new trees will have been planted in this phase when it is completed in 2024.

Work will also comple all planned seating areas with benches, tables and way finders returning the Langstone Harbour viewing car park back to its use as a car park.

The North Portsea Coastal Scheme covers 8.4km of Portsmouth’s coastline from Tipner through to Milton. Most of the area is low-lying and many of the current coastal defences are approaching the end of their effective lives.

Predictions also indicate that sea levels are set to rise by up to a meter over the next 100 years, meaning the flood risk to the area will increase. The new scheme is designed to a 1 in 500 year (plus allowance for climate change to 2100) standard of protection against flooding, reducing the risk of flooding from the sea to over 4,200 homes, 500 businesses and critical infrastructure over the next 100 years.

Since 2014, the government has awarded £63.7m of funding to the North Portsea Coastal Scheme for construction. Construction began in 2015 and is being delivered in five construction phases, with completion programmed in 2026.

The scheme is grant funded by the Environment Agency as is being delivered by Coastal Partners on behalf of Portsmouth City Council.

Read more on the Southsea Coastal Scheme