Work on new Southsea sea defences to start this year as almost £100m is awarded by government
WORK to build brand new sea defences to protect Portsmouth from rising sea levels will begin this year after the scheme was awarded nearly £100m by the government.
The Treasury has approved funding of £97.8m from the Environment Agency to the Southsea sea defence project, which will replace ‘outdated’ defences from Long Curtain Moat to the Eastney Barracks over the next few years.
Planning permission for the defences had already been granted by Portsmouth City Council at the end of 2019, however, funding was needed before work could begin.
Councillor David Ashmore, the council’s environment and climate change boss, said: ‘Securing this funding is a testament to the hard work put in by the team over the last seven years.
‘We are now able to replace the outdated defences and protect Southsea residents and businesses from the risk of flooding for generations to come.’
As previously reported it is estimated the whole project could cost up to £131m.
It had been hoped that some funding – up to £10m – would come from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), however, it is not known if this will be possible.
The council’s new cabinet member for planning policy and city development, Cllr Hugh Mason, explained how any shortfall would be met by the council.
‘It could cost more than the £100m we have guaranteed at the moment,’ he said.
‘But we have enough money now and enough confidence as a whole that we are able to start work.
‘If we can get money from other places then of course we will.
‘The council will find the money because we have to do this. Without the defences people would eventually be forced to move.’
The first phase of work, which is planned to start this autumn, will be between Long Curtain Moat and Clarence Pier – while detailed designs for other sections are being developed. Currently ground investigation work is being carried out in that area.
It is expected the final designs for each section of the scheme will be close to the plans shown to the public at the most recent consultation event last year.
Existing sea defences in Southsea have been breached several times, with sections damaged this year by storms.