Partnership Report - Coastal Partners

Lake,

© MMXXII Coastal Partners

The contents of this publication are subject to copyright protection and reproduction in whole or in part. Whether mechanical or electronic is expressly forbidden without the prior consent of Coastal Partners.

All details were correct at the time of being published, but may change at the publisher’s discretion.

Photographic credits

© Coastal Partners: pp 2, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34, 40, 43, 45, 46, 47

© ECOncrete: p 22

© Southsea Coastal Scheme: pp 11, 13, 23, 35, 41

© Mackley: pp 24, 25, 30, 31

Greenandblue.co.uk: p 25

Pierre Terre: p 26

Colin Babb p 29

Istockphoto.com: pp 4, 5, 9, 16, 36, 37, 39, 40, 44

© Environment Agency: pp 32, 33

CCO: p 38

Contents

Glossary

Protecting Communties

Glossary & Abbreviations

Stoke Lake, Gosport

Message from Executive Head

As a public organisation, we are focussed on the communities we represent, balancing the needs of our Local Authority partners, enhancing the natural environment and adapting to climate change. We have cultivated this fine balance and made progressive strides forward in shaping attractive spaces for leisure whilst protecting against flooding and making homes for nature.

This period has seen effects of climate change become widely recognised. We are integral to finding cost-effective and practical solutions to these potentially flood threatening changes. By working with Partners, Universities and innovative manufacturers we have incorporated pioneering initiatives to help nature better adapt to sea level rise. On North Portsea Island, (pages 24 - 25) the ‘Ecoformliner’ has been the focus of a Coastal Management award and this measure offers more opportunities for ecosystems to thrive. Helping to adapt and mitigate against the effects of climate change is at the core of our service. We pride ourselves on an environmentally focussed output and vision. However, we don’t do this alone!

We draw strength and ideas from our stakeholders and from a wider network of like-minded organisations (page 41) working on similar projects across the country.

Changes in the economic and fiscal environment over the past two years have created challenges of a different kind. With increasing pressure on public finances and escalating supplier and material costs, the need for developing efficiencies through shared service delivery models has come to the fore. This has led to some great outcomes, including welcoming Chichester District Council to the Partnership. It has also helped us to refine our approach with other public authorities, leading to greater resilience and cost-sharing. We believe this shift will benefit the organisation, and ultimately the local communities that we serve, for years to come.

The effect of Covid-19 on working lives has brought many changes. Working in a digital environment has given rise to more opportunities for Coastal Partners to influence initiatives on a national level. This includes helping shape the Action Plan to deliver

the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England. The past 24 months have seen colleagues leading the way with research and environmental development through sharing our approach at international conferences, where in pre-covid times, this may have been out of reach.

All these positive steps would not have been possible without the drive, enthusiasm and dedication of our talented team of engineers, scientists and project specialists. I am extremely proud to witness the huge efforts that have taken place in what is an eradefining period. Investing in our colleagues is something that is a necessity, not a ‘nice-to-have’, and this ethic is repaid with a culture of commitment and appetite that has been nurtured organically throughout the service.

Lyall Cairns Executive Head

Helping to adapt and mitigate against the effects of climate change is at the core of our service.

Rock Groynes at Hayling Island

Our vision at Coastal Partners is to manage coastlines, improve community resilience and enhance the natural environment

Who We Are

Coastal Partners is a shared Coastal Management Service formed through the requirement of cross-border efficiencies, service excellence and the growing challenge of funding availability. We work side-by-side with our Partners, in line with their corporate strategies to manage coastal erosion and flood risk in an examined and tailored way.

Our team of engineers, scientists, ecologists, surveyors and project management professionals, manage a joined-up coastline of 246km across five Local Authority areas in Hampshire and West Sussex. Working together, we deliver sustainable, environmentally focussed

coastal management solutions and success is realised through effective use of our staff resource and a proven track record for project delivery and asset maintenance.

We also offer services and support to public sector organisations further afield. Tracer Pebble technology (page 44) and the Geomatics Division (page 45) are serving Local Authorities outside of our five Partners with their Beach Management Plans, Coastal Schemes and engineering projects. Similarly, our NEC-qualified Project Managers and Environmental teams are working with public sector organisations on initiatives that will define our coastline for generations.

Coastlines are rapidly changing; seas are rising at increasing speed; storms are becoming more frequent and existing sea defences are becoming outdated.

These factors put pressure on society, ecology and the economy, and supporting our communities and being passionate about the environment are at the core of what we do.

Clients and Partners

Thanks to all of our Partners and Organisations we are privileged to work alongside

Engineering Excellence

The coast is a dynamic environment, rich in natural resources and popular for development; in fact, most of the world’s population live close to coastal areas. Despite being considered prime real estate, human impact and climate change have created unprecedented challenges for coastal communities who are now experiencing accelerated coastal erosion and the increasing risk of flooding.

Our Coastal Engineers are responsible for designing and delivering civil engineering projects that help to protect coastal communities from flooding and erosion, while creating attractive places for leisure and amenity. It’s not possible to prevent all flooding or erosion but there are actions that can be taken to manage these risks and reduce the impact on coastal communities of climate change. Coastal defences can take the form of defence structures, such as breakwaters, seawalls, groynes and revetments or softer defences techniques such as beach renourishment, beach recycling and realignment. Ensuring the selection of the right coastal management technique or defence structure is critical in achieving the goal of effective management of the coastline. Our ongoing inspection, repair and maintenance of these assets, then ensures they remain effective and provide their expected service life.

At Coastal Partners the Major Projects Team and Engineering Team lead on this crucial

work. Highly experienced civil engineers and construction management professionals within the teams deliver project management and engineering design services for capital projects.

The Major Projects Team lead on several largescale schemes, including the Southsea Coastal Scheme (pages 22 - 23), the largest local authorityled coastal defence project in the country and the North Portsea Island Coastal Scheme (pages 24 - 25), covering 8.4km of coastline.

The Engineering Team lead on a variety of highprofile flood and coastal engineering projects across our region. Working alongside designers, contractors and consultants, the team deliver firstclass engineering solutions tailored to the unique coastal activity of each location, and resilient to climate change.

Experience of complex projects in the coastal environment has led to extensive experience in:

• Project management

• Civil engineering design & design management

Site supervision

NEC contract management

Procurement

Asset management

Surveys and inspections

Climate Change

Managing our biggest threat

The effects of climate change pose a real threat to communities and biodiversity along the world’s coastline. The Environment Agency (EA) predicts that 1 million people in Britain will be exposed to annual coastal flooding by 2100. Moreover, the UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) point to increased storminess and, whilst summers are projected to be hotter and drier, rainfall levels are likely to be greater and more intense. The National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies rates coastal flooding as amongst the highest risks to the UK. This is because a flood

event is both relatively likely and could have a serious impact on communities, businesses, and infrastructure. A major flood event is happening almost every year, rainfall records are regularly broken, and storms are impacting large parts of the UK at any time of year not just winter. Significant parts of the UK’s coastline is eroding, permanently impacting communities and infrastructure. The economic costs run into billions of pounds and the impacts on peoples’ health, disruption and loss of life are profound.

Counting the cost - Sea Level Rise

In the English Channel, sea levels are currently rising between 1.45 - 3mm each year and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is projecting a rise of up to 0.77 metres by 2100 with 1.5°C of global warming and 0.93 m for 2°C. Sea level rise describes the phenomenon of increases in the level of the world’s seas and oceans as global temperatures rise. They are rising as glaciers and ice sheets melt, adding more water to the ocean. Additionally, the volume of the ocean is expanding as

Working towards net-zero

the water warms. Small changes in average temperatures can drive large shifts in extreme climate events and although this creates big challenges in our work, we are rising to meet them with evidence-based solutions.

For us to deliver future-proofed, fit-for-purpose sea defences we factor in scientific projections and plan for an increased likelihood of flooding and the severity of its impacts.

There is no doubt that coastal change is being accelerated by increased storminess, changing wave patterns and rising seas. For us to tackle the impacts of this sustainably and environmentally, we are working alongside the EA to implement how to adapt and mitigate climate change now and for decades to come.

The EA’s long-term Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for England focusses on two main ways that we can do this. The first, mitigation, aims to reduce or limit the effects of greenhouse gases that bring about climate change. The second, adaptation, is through changing our lifestyles, economy, infrastructure and local places to make us more resilient and adaptable to future consequences.

Our projects along the Solent are helping to protect homes, businesses and the environment for future generations. We have many measures in place that are making a meaningful contribution to carbon reduction and becoming net zero.

• Pioneering ‘greening the grey’ initiatives such as the Ecoformliner, tidal pools and potato starch grids. These innovations aid the growth of marine plants such as seagrass which is effective for carbon capture.

• Reusing excavated material from existing structures to provide fill material for the new sea defences. This avoids sending thousands of tonnes of waste to landfill.

• Using concrete containing a by-product called Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag which reduces the amount of cement required

• Keeping reusable material onsite helps to save thousands of tonnes of CO2 on the production of new material and the transportation of it.

• Using biodiesel, a renewable, biodegradable fuel manufactured domestically from vegetable oils, on all plant equipment

The Royal Oak, Langstone 2019

‘Greening the grey’

Tidal Pools at Southsea

Coastlines

Selsey

Chichester

When we set out to write our Partnership vision in 2020, the elements practically wrote themselves. Our vision; ‘to manage coastlines, improve community resilience and enhance the natural environment’ was created with having the right team in place, a positive outlook and a desire to improve the communities we serve.

Two years on, and our range of projects have grown in size and status, alongside our outputs and workforce. Whilst we are proud of these achievements, one of our proudest was that we have also been joined by Chichester District Council to make the fifth Partner of Coastal Partners.

Bosham Quay

A Landmark year for the Partnership

Chichester is the largest Local Authority in West Sussex with 303 square miles of territory and a coastline that includes iconic beaches such as The Witterings and East Head. Now with Chichester working with Coastal Partners we have an even more joined-up strategic coastal management ownership along the UK’s South Coast. With this in place we are driving efficiencies, savings and increasing our knowledge base.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Chichester to Coastal Partners and we are very much looking forward to working on coastal management initiatives in the district and adding value to the area’s environmental agenda.

“By joining together with the other councils along our coastline we can combine expertise, local knowledge and access the most cost-effective solutions to protect our coastline and improve our local landscape. We can also continue to offer a robust and resilient service by sharing expertise and collaborating with other local authorities.”

Cllr Penny Plant Cabinet Member for the Environment and Chichester Contract Services

View across Medmerry Nature Reserve

Havant

Langstone

An Iconic Destination

The village of Langstone sits at the southern tip of Havant where Hayling Island meets the mainland. The current coastal defences that line the compact and pretty village are in a poor condition with some nearing the end of their life. With critical upgrades needed, a scheme is being developed that will protect Langstone for the next 50 years.

Coastal Defence Scheme

A Project Timeline

In 2018 the scheme entered the Option Appraisal stage. This considered a range of design options for the different frontages along Langstone and identified Leading Options for each of these. The Leading Options are recognised as those that present the most viable solution considering technical, environmental, economic, and social factors, and these were further developed into an Outline Design. Based on the supporting information in the Outline Design, HBC Cabinet approved procurement for professional services in 2020 which moved the project into the Detailed Design stage.

In April 2021 professional services were appointed for the Detailed Design. AECOM has been taken on as the Designer with Faithful & Gould acting as the Cost Consultant, Wessex Archaeology the Heritage Consultant, and Mackley the Early Contractor Involvement Consultant. Ground Investigations, Structural Investigations, and Habitat Surveys have all been undertaken since, along with a stakeholder working group and two community working events. The results of the investigations, surveys, and engagement feedback have all been used to refine the Outline Design.

Over the next year, the project team will continue to develop, refine and optimise the Detailed Design. Further engagement events are planned alongside consultation with statutory stakeholders. The result of the input and dedication will be a Detailed Design that presents the most viable solution to protect the village of Langstone.

Although a funding gap for the scheme does exist, £5.9m of funding has already been secured and this includes a portion of funding to assess the exciting possibility of restoring saltmarsh along the coastline.

Benefits for All

When completed, the upgraded defences will stabilise flood and erosion risk to 114 homes and businesses. Critical infrastructure will also be protected, alongside important heritage and landscape assets. Coastal access and recreational opportunities will also be improved, and the natural environment will be preserved and enhanced.

Aerial view of Langstone

Royal Oak, Langstone

Recent Activity

Beach management works are usually undertaken to coincide with ‘storm season’ to ensure the beach provides an effective coastal defence. During the last financial year, several storms hit the south coast of England, including Storms Barra and Eunice. Two successful beach management campaigns were undertaken during this period including working in collaboration with Hayling Golf Club. Here, 15,000m3 of shingle was moved from Gunner Point back to Eastoke before the winter period began. Following the winter season, 20,000m3 of shingle was recycled helping to return the beach to withstand the risk of coastal flooding.

Hayling Island

Delivering Successful Beach Management

Hayling Island has over 3 miles of beaches along the seafront facing the Solent and many more miles of shore around the Harbours of Langstone and Chichester. With a beach that has long stretches of sand below high tide mark and shallow waters at low tide, the destination is naturally popular with locals and visitors alike.

Coastal defence policy varies along the south coast of the Island. From a ‘Hold the Line’ policy in the east and centrally, to an area of ‘natural evolution’ at West Beach and Gunner Point.

One frontage that contains many residential properties close to the sea is at Eastoke. Coastal defences here are primarily made up of shingle and this material is managed in the form of ‘beach

recycling’. Beach recycling is the movement of shingle from areas where it builds up by the waves and tides, back to those areas that have been eroded. This method of beach management has been identified in the South Hayling Beach Management Plan (BMP) and the strategy delivers a 1:200-year standard of protection for Eastoke. The BMP began in April 2017 funded by a £3.3m Environment Agency grant. The beach recycling strategy runs until April 2024 ensuring that the shingle takes the brunt of the waves, preventing coastline erosion, failure of the buried seawall and flooding to the properties along Eastoke. The area last flooded significantly in 1985, which pre-dates beach recycling activities, and the strategy has stood up to the growing concern of sea-level rise.

Big Wins for Hayling

Serious flood events to Eastoke properties have greatly reduced since Beach Management has been in place. An attractive beach is maintained for residents and visitors to Hayling - it’s an internationally recognised location for windsurfers, sailors and kite surfers. Annual beach recycling is currently more cost-effective than other coastal defences such as seawalls or rock armour.

Eastoke, Hayling

Sandy Point, Hayling

“There’s lots of great collaborative work taking place along Hayling and Langstone coastlines. Coastal Partners are helping to make a sustainable and inspiring future for the Borough and our communities.”

Cllr Clare Satchwell, Cabinet Lead for Planning, Hayling Seafront Strategy and Coastal Management

Marina, Hayling Island

Portsmouth

A city famed for its engineering, from the Palmerston forts that line the Solent to the modern architectural icon the Spinnaker Tower. Portsmouth bears a wealth of structures that stir pride within the people who call the city home.

Sited on Portsea Island, Portsmouth is surrounded by water. As we move into an age of sea level rise and more frequent storms, an expanse of engineering important to the city in both function and form is the city’s sea defences. Arguably its most important coastline is the south-facing coast known as the Southsea seafront.

Southsea Coastal Scheme phase 1 under construction

Southsea Coastal Scheme

High Profile Programme

Construction of the UK’s largest local authority led coastal defence project got underway in September 2020 and when complete, it will stretch for 4.5km, helping to reduce the risk of flooding to more than 10,000 homes and 700 businesses.

The Southsea Coastal Scheme is comprised of six frontages, from Old Portsmouth to Eastney, worth around £150M in total. Two frontages are currently being constructed along a coastline steeped in history stretching back many generations. Frontage 1, Long Curtain Moat, is due for completion in autumn 2022 and Frontage 4, Southsea Castle, got underway in January 2022.

Long Curtain Moat

After a year of the construction…

525 linear metres of sheet piles installed, totalling 6300m2. Laid end to end, this would make a total of 12km of sheet piles driven into the ground.

11,474 tonnes of heavy, dense anorthosite rock imported from Norway.

20,000m3 of dredged material laid.

10,200m2 of geotextile installed under the rock to prevent the rock settling into the existing beach revetment at Frontage 1.

Tidal Pool establishing Tidal Pool with life

Unearthing History

There have been several unexpected discoveries made during the works. The team uncovered the remains of the 17th century city walls and defences, as well as original masons’ marks inscribed on the stones.

Working closely with Historic England and Wessex Archaeology, the finds have been recorded for posterity and a section of the original wall has been restored and will be a focal point of Long Curtain Moat.

Works to protect the historic Long Curtain Moat have included repairs to the moat walls and an intensive steam clean. The cleaning process transformed the moat’s inner walls, removing much of the staining and restoring them close to their former glory.

Ecology and Recycling

Matching Old With New

Throughout Frontage 1, materials have been meticulously sourced to ensure they closely replicated the original sea defences, with Purbeck limestone and granite units making up the new defences. Approval from Historic England for the materials to be used came after more than a year of consultation and testing to ensure the new design was sympathetic to the historic area.

Remains of the 17th Century city wall

Respecting the habitats of wildlife is a priority of the Scheme. The team worked closely with Natural England on mitigation strategies for dark-bellied brent geese that frequented the area. An area is now fenced off for the geese during winter.

As the work moves East along the front, the Scheme will schedule works around the purple sandpiper birds that overwinter around Southsea Castle. This scheduling will restrict disruption and noise to those months outside of when the birds inhabit the area.

Frontage 1 will also see the introduction of 18 tide pools amongst the defences that will help to promote the colonisation of marine life. The concrete pools are designed to create ecosystems that mimic natural rock pools found on rocky coastlines.

Recycling is also a priority, and a materials processing site has been set up to maximise this. The Scheme plans to reuse material that will be broken and excavated out of the existing structures to provide fill material for the new sea defences. This will avoid sending more than 92,000 tonnes of waste to landfill.

Stakeholder Engagement

The Scheme now has its own on-site project information centre where visitors can drop in. Regular stakeholder and community engagement activities have been carried out since it’s opening and a customer engagement officer has been employed to help increase corporate social responsibility. Site visits for stakeholders are often organised, as well as visits to schools and learning events focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths).

The entire Scheme is due to complete in 2028.

Original masons’ mark

Portsmouth’s coastal defence project for the north of Portsea Island, 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.

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 including the Eastern Road over the next 100 years.

North Portsea Island Coastal Defence Scheme

The story so far

In 2014, the government awarded £58m of funding to the North Portsea Island Scheme. Construction began in 2015 and the entire scheme is due for completion in autumn 2025.

The scheme is being delivered in 5 phases. Phase 1 Anchorage Park and 2 Milton Common were completed in 2016. Phase 3 Tipner Lake, along the northwest coast of Portsmouth started in 2017, with completion and open to the public in September 2019.

In November 2019 work on phases 4a Kendall’s Wharf and 4b Eastern Road along the east coast of Portsmouth began. The first stage, 4a, which ties in with the completed defences at Anchorage Park, included the construction of an earth embankment, road raising at the entrance to Kendall’s Wharf and a timber cladded steel sheet pile wall. A new raised coastal footpath was built, raising the land levels to provide protection against flooding with approx 2,000m2 of wildflower seeds and 75 new trees planted alongside. Phase 4a was completed in spring 2021.

Phase 4b began in 2021 and covers the longest stretch of this phase which will tie in with the completed defences at Kendall’s Wharf and Milton Common.

Ecoformliner wall in place at North Portsea Island, phase 4

Slipway during construction Slipway during construction Phase 4 Path with wildflowers

Section of Glass Floodwall

More than just a wall

Most of the sea defence wall along the Eastern Road will be a textured wall using a special ‘Ecoformliner’ mould, which imprints into the wall during construction. As such, the texturing is part of the actual sea defence and has a 100-year design life. Coastal Partners worked with experts including the Universities of Glasgow and Bournemouth to design the mould for the project. Once established, the textured seawall aims to provide a platform for the many marine species found in Langstone Harbour to colonise on and is the first specifically designed for inter-tidal ecology in the UK.

Ecoformliner wall during construction

As well as environmental benefits, the marine plant growth on the sea wall is expected to have practical advantages. Once established, the vegetation should absorb wave energy, reduce temperature fluctuations and reduce salt ingress and egress into the local ground water to create a more stable environment.

For phase 4b the team also worked with residents and stakeholders to include a glass topped flood wall as part of the planned sea defence scheme. As a result of the collective efforts and through efficiencies within the budget, funding was found for a total of 400 metres of glass flood wall to be installed in 3 different locations: the Andrew Simpson Watersport Centre, Harbourside Park and Tudor Sailing Club. By the end of construction year 2021, a total of 600m of sea wall was completed and the first two sections of glass flood wall were successfully installed in the area around Tudor Sailing Club and the Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre. Both venues had their slipway replaced and raised to meet the required defence level.

What’s to Come?

A sheet pile wall to help form the base for the flood wall

Continuing of full height concrete flood wall, including Ecoformliner

Installation of third flood glass section and new improved fencing at Harbourside Holiday Park Landscaping work, including the new wider coastal footpath, new seating areas and more wildflower and trees

Environmental protection

Respecting nature is a priority of the scheme, and the team works closely with Natural England to not only preserve, but shape and enhance the landscape to create more habitats for wildlife and marine life. Langstone Harbour is an extremely special natural area and as part of the Solent, one of the most important coastal zones in the UK - providing a nationally and internationally recognised and protected overwintering zone for waders, ducks and geese.

The Solent supports a large dark-bellied brent geese population every winter. To ensure our scheme does not cause any unnecessary disturbance to these and all other coastal birds in Langstone Harbour, all construction work stops during this period, recommencing again in the spring.

Other phases of the project will be going through Detailed Design review and planning applications later this year. The entire scheme currently has a planned completion date of 2025.

A bee post similar to those being installed at phase 4

Gosport

Holding back the tide

With its great views of the Isle of Wight and sweeping shingle beach, Stokes Bay is a popular destination with locals and visitors alike. After enduring the sea’s power twice daily, the 1974-built flood defences along it’s coast are now reaching the end of their serviceable life and are in need of an upgrade. Coastal Partners, as part of Gosport Borough Council, are working in partnership with Hampshire County Council, to develop a longer-term solution to manage coastal erosion at Stokes Bay, given the high costs associated with ongoing maintenance and repairs.

Stokes Bay Option Appraisal and Outline Design Study

The Study sets out to find the best and most practical solutions to protect key infrastructure from flooding and erosion. Transport, tourism, heritage and the environment are all key themes being considered to understand the most suitable options for the shoreline on the southwest coast of the Gosport peninsula.

The study focusses on the area between the Alverbank east and Alverbank west car parks, but integration of the wider Stokes Bay frontage will also be factored in when developing the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management options. Similarly, the study will identify wider objectives shared with our partners and stakeholders.These include regeneration, growth and wellbeing, and with their inclusion it will establish a more holistic view that supports both the community and the environment.

With funding for the Study obtained from the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, Gosport Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, the project is currently identifying a short list of options that will be investigated further before a leading option is chosen.

Fort Gilkicker, Stokes Bay

Discussions are underway to identify what option(s) would be preferred before moving to the next stage of the project which will involve discussions with other key stakeholders.

Aerial view of Stokes Bay

Promenade at Stokes Bay Beach at Stokes Bay

Improving Gosport's Sea Defences

Three different locations fall under the banner of The Gosport Coastal Defence Scheme. Improvements to existing flood defences in Alverstoke, Forton and Seafield will help to mitigate the effects of sea-level rise and climate change.

The scheme is of key importance to the Borough as these areas are at the highest risk of flooding. The measures being put in place across the locations include new reinforced concrete flood walls, removable flood boards and a floodgate that will span the width of a road during flood events.

The Schemes align with The River Hamble to Portchester Strategy adopted by the Gosport Borough Council and the Environment Agency in 2015.

Stokes Bay

The Future is bright for the Bay

With its recreational amenities and historical buildings, a rejuvenated coastal defence system will ensure that people and nature will be able to continue to live and work in the area alongside the changing face of our climate.

View of St Mary’s Church over Alverstoke Lake

Fareham

An opportunity to create new intertidal habitat

The Solent coastline is facing significant pressure from rising sea levels, more frequent and bigger storms, and increased flood and erosion risk. As a result, important coastal habitats such as saltmarshes are slowly being lost as they are squeezed against existing sea defences. Hook Lake has been chosen as a potential area to create new coastal habitat to offset these losses in the Hamble Estuary and the wider Solent. The creation of new compensatory habitat will help to offset habitat losses today and in the future from new defence schemes. This new habitat must be reinstated to enable future coastal defence schemes in our area to progress.

“Coastal Partners are instrumental in the habitat creation study at Hook Lake.

When complete, the project will help compensate against loss of intertidal habitats, bringing multiple benefits to the environment and local community”

Cllr Simon Martin,

Executive Member for Planning and Development, Fareham Borough Council.

Hook Lake Coastal Management Study

Why Hook Lake?

Hook Lake has been chosen as it has the required characteristics for intertidal habitat to thrive and it is already managed as a nature reserve. Historical maps indicate that the site was previously a tidal inlet with Hook River forming a tributary of the Hamble Estuary.

The size and topography of the site means there is space for a variety of habitats to be created ranging from mudflat and saltmarsh, brackish and land-based habitats, and for these habitats to naturally adapt to sea level rise over time.

Hook Lake Reed Beds

Hook Lake Gorse Bushes

Hook Lake Spit

Hook Lake Path

What is happening?

The Hook Lake Coastal Management Study is the first stage in the delivery of a habitat creation scheme at Hook Lake. As this project looks to fulfil a legal requirement to create new habitat, the study is entirely funded by Government through Defra Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Grant in Aid.

Working closely with Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, who own and manage the site, the two-year study will look to maximise the potential benefits for both local

people and wildlife to ensure that Hook Lake remains a special place. We will explore the potential for creating new habitats, look at wider recreation opportunities and develop preliminary designs for a scheme.

In March 2021, the project team enlisted the professional services of engineering consultancy Binnies to help deliver the more technical elements of the study and develop the outline designs for a scheme. Over the next year, the project team will develop and appraise different approaches

Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Studies in Fareham

In the Borough of Fareham two locations have been identified to develop further studies and help adapt to the growing presence of climate change. On behalf of Fareham Borough Council, Coastal Partners has successfully secured funding to develop options for a long term sustainable coastal management solution along the Fareham Quay and Alton Grove to Cador Drive coastline. The study will help to address future climate change impacts including increased coastal flood risk and erosion.

Both these areas of coastline currently have sea defences in poor condition and are at risk of flooding if a coastal management solution is not identified. Importantly, they also both feature historic landfill sites along the coastal frontages. These are in danger of eroding which could lead to the longstanding landfill material making its way into the environmentally designated harbour. To address these issues, we are compiling an evidence-based plan to protect the area and the community in the future.

Over the next 18 months the project team will appraise, develop and cost options for coastal management, look at how to fund a scheme and prepare an outline design for the preferred scheme option at each location. The project team will actively look at opportunities to integrate wider Fareham Borough Council initiatives to improve the public realm, amenity, recreation and access; and enhance community health and wellbeing.

to creating habitat and identify a cost-effective leading way forward that maximises both habitat creation delivery and recreation opportunities.

Following on from this initial study stage the project team will submit a business case to the Government to request funding to progress the project to the next stages of finalising designs, obtaining licences and consents and then building a scheme at Hook Lake.

Alton Grove, Fareham

Fareham Quay

Improving Community Resilience

Enhancing the Natural Environment

The Andrew Simpson Watersports

Industry Recognition

It has been a year where The North Portsea Island Coastal Defence scheme (pages 24 -25) has been acknowledged by leading industry figures for its environmental innovations. The project entered the prestigious ‘Flood and Coast Excellence Awards’ and proudly emerged as victors of the ‘Coastal Management’ Award.

The scheme stood out thanks to the range of ecological interventions that have been incorporated into the project. It was seen as leading the way in ‘greening’ hard-engineered infrastructure that makes up our urban environment, a term often referred to as ‘greening the grey’.

A key component of the success was an innovative Ecoformliner specifically designed for intertidal ecosystems. The Ecoformliner is a textured sea wall that retains water enabling marine animals and plants to take hold. The contoured design encourages vegetation growth, which helps to absorb wave energy and stops the wall from drying out, leading to greater resilience and longevity. The trailblazing wall not only provides an effective coastal defence, but also vast environmental benefits.

A co-ordinated partnership effort was delivered, enabling the Ecoformliner to be designed, developed and implemented. This demonstrated how collaborative government / university / industry partnerships can be harnessed to deliver large-scale eco-engineering.

Thanks go out to the following organisations for bringing this project to life; Glasgow and Bournemouth Universities, Environment Agency, Portsmouth City Council, Natural England, Royal Haskoning DHV, Concrete Scotland, Mackley, Reckli and the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Protecting Communities and Biodiversity

Through a structured approach to habitat provision, the RHCP allows FCERM schemes to efficiently progress, whilst ensuring compliance with legal requirements and helping to deliver the goals of the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. Adopting this approach will help contribute to more sustainable flood risk management in the future.

The Solent coastline is a diverse and unique place. Where businesses and homes are threatened by sea-level rise, the diversity of the coastline has given rise to some innovative methods protecting these communities.

Where some solutions have been successful for flood risk other areas have suffered. Habitat loss and coastal squeeze are impacts from certain Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) schemes. As a result, the Environment Agency (EA) has set up the Regional Habitat Compensation Programme (RHCP) to help deliver strategic habitat compensation. Across England, depending on the size and geographical pressures, different areas have their own RHCP. In the Solent and South Downs area, we are

working with the Environment Agency to deliver the programme, helping to ensure compliance with the nature conservation legislation and support a region rich in biodiversity whilst also delivering coastal schemes for local communities.

When environmentally designated sites are damaged, reduced or fragmented in some way as a result of FCERM projects, other suitable sites are required for compensatory habitat. The Solent and South Downs RHCP covers the area from Hurst Spit in the west to Beachy Head in the east and includes the north coast of the Isle of Wight. Within this area, several potential habitat creation sites have been identified for the programme to compensate for the effects of coastal squeeze and saline inundation resulting from rising sea levels.

RHCP sites

Marker Point, Thorney Island

In partnership with the EA, the Ministry of Defence and Chichester Harbour Conservancy, the Thorney Island scheme aims to create intertidal habitat through managed realignment. A new set-back flood defence will be constructed, and the existing defence will be breached to allow new intertidal habitat to develop.

Hook Lake, Warsash

Hook Lake is a Local Nature Reserve situated at the mouth of the Hamble Estuary in Warsash, Hampshire. More information on page 28.

Hurst Spit to Lymington

The habitats and species of this area are of international importance and rich in biodiversity. The EA, New Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council and Natural England are working in partnership to explore a sustainable future for this popular coastline.

Safeguarding the Solent

Coastal Partners actively participates in partnerships and initiatives across the Solent, with the aim to reduce the increasing number of pressures on the coastal environment.

Alongside the RHCP, the Environment Team has been working with the Blue Marine Foundation on the Endangered Landscapes Programme. This programme enables the restoration of some of Europe’s most important landscapes and collectively we are working to reconnect various habitats of the Solent. These habitats, which include seagrass meadows and saltmarsh, have become fragmented due to

commerce and recreation on the UK’s busiest network of harbours.

Coastal Partners are also members of the Chichester Harbour Protection and Recovery of Nature (CHaPRoN) initiative. Working towards the vision for Chichester Harbour in 2050, we are testing the feasibility of restoring damaged saltmarsh habitats at Langstone Village and opening up conversations with landowners around the Harbour

to identify coastal habitat creation opportunities.

The Southern Water Summit is another growing initiative the Environment Team plays a key role in. Here, senior leaders from organisations across the catchments of Langstone, Chichester and Pagham Harbours are working together to agree on a shared action plan for improving water quality and natural habitats.

“The South-coast of England is steeped in cultural heritage. Working alongside organisations like Coastal Partners we are ensuring that these special historic places can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Iain Bright, Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Historic England

Camber Quay, Old Portsmouth

Hayling Island Coastal Management Strategy

Preparing for a resilient future

Hayling Island is located on the South Hampshire coast in the Borough of Havant. The Island has approximately 38km of coastline and a population of over 17,000. As an island community, climate change is one of the largest challenges Hayling Island is facing. It poses a significant threat to the economy, environment, health and way of life. Current predictions are that rising sea levels due to climate change are to significantly increase the level of coastal flood and erosion risk on the island.

The story so far...

In 2019, funding was secured from the Environment Agency and Havant Borough Council Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to develop a coastal management strategy for Hayling Island.

The aim of the Hayling Island Coastal Management Strategy 2121 is to produce a sustainable cohesive strategy for managing flood and coastal erosion risk for Hayling Island for the next 100 years.

In the summer of 2020, AECOM Consultants were enlisted to provide professional support to the project. To date, the Coastal Partners team have collated and assessed current data to establish our baseline. Modelling has

been undertaken to assess flood and erosion risk, which has lead to the identification and appraisal of a range of management approaches for the Island.

The project is in the process of identifying a short-term priority programme of works for Hayling Island over the next 10 years along with a longer-term action plan to manage tidal flood and erosion risk, and identify sustainable, credible and cost-effective approaches to managing coastal risks until 2121. As we respond to future coastal change from sea level rise and climate change, the Strategy will also need to incorporate adaptation strategies, as defence improvements will not be possible in all locations.

Next steps

Between October and December 2022, the project team will carry out a number of public engagement events to consult on the draft strategy. In spring 2023, the final strategy will be confirmed before being submitted to the Environment Agency and Havant Borough Council for approval.

Sandy Point, Hayling Island

Remnants of the Hayling Billy Railway, Langstone Harbour

Call to Arms

Within the national Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) sector, policy and guidance is a fundamental element that helps to shape the success and sustainability of future coastal management.

In recent years, Risk Management Authorities (RMA), particularly Local Authorities have found themselves facing many policy and guidance issues. Whilst the Defra Policy Statement & National FCERM

Strategy (2020) went some way towards trying to resolve some of these challenges, in many areas it didn’t go far enough.

With pressure mounting, in November 2020 Coastal Partners developed four ‘Call to Arms’ workstreams to help address the issues being faced. Created on behalf of the national Coastal Group Network (CGN) the workstreams covered the priority themes including:

Coastal Landfill

Place Shaping & Partnership Funding

Coastal Adaptation

Asset Management

The purpose of each ‘Call to Arms’ theme was to set out the national problem being faced and bring together partners from the national playing field to formulate a plan to tackle the issues identified. The primary function of each group was to share knowledge and collaborate with the end goal of attracting support to influence a positive change in national policy. Each theme has moved forward at a different pace, but to date there has been

significant national interest and with some strong outcomes in terms of advocacy and lobbying for change. The areas align well with the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Groups (LGA SIG) priorities and as such there are strong links between the organisations with officers from Coastal Partners bridging the gap between operational issues and national strategy and policy.

SCOPAC & SCG

The Southern Coastal Group (SCG) and Standing Conference on Problems Associated with the Coastline (SCOPAC)

Based in central southern England, these groups provide a network for neighbouring Local Authorities and organisations that are involved in coastal management. Originally formed separately, they now work as one organisation to share and develop research, best practice and resources within the region.

Lyall Cairns, Executive Head at Coastal Partners is the current Chairman of SCG and Dr Samantha Cope, Coastal Partners is Research Chair. This involves running the group, coordinating the research programme and providing technical assistance to councillors for SCOPAC.

The benefits of collaboration are more important now than ever as the coastal management sector experiences increasing pressures from climate change, public sector cuts, shifting government policy and the retirement of senior engineers. By supporting and leading the SCG and SCOPAC, Coastal Partners is contributing to the continuation and reinvigoration of the groups, ensuring their longevity and continued benefit to members.

“The SCG and SCOPAC research provides a mechanism for local and region-wide issues to be investigated, that may not ordinarily be undertaken by a single Local Authority.

The knowledge shared not only benefits officers and members but can lead to much larger research projects being commissioned by central government.”

Dr Samantha Cope Coastal Partners

Aerial

Broader Thinking and Funding

Other Government Department

Unitary Authorities

As an established Coastal Management Partnership, we are vested in working collaboratively and over the years we have achieved much more through this approach. Such broader thinking has been paramount to delivering FCERM projects that not only reduce flood and erosion risk but also lead to other opportunities that extend throughout communities, businesses, and the environment.

A Progressive Partnership Approach

Our portfolio of projects is contributing to a range of far-reaching benefits, both locally and regionally, which are helping to ensure a more sustainable future. Improved health and wellbeing, regeneration, growth, tourism and recreation, protection of infrastructure and the integration of environmental outcomes are all factored into our schemes. If FCERM schemes are delivered in the context of a ‘place’ then significant benefits for wider society can be achieved.

Water Environment Improvement Fund

Regional Flood & Coastal Committee Levy

Solent LEP

£245.5m 13Sources of funding

Coastal Groups

Local Authorities

Alongside this, by working in partnership and aligning objectives with other organisations, we create the opportunity to attract alternative or additional funding towards schemes that might otherwise not progress due to funding shortfalls. Since 2012 we have looked to utilise a broad range of investment to help address climate change. Our inclusive philosophy has allowed us to be successful in securing over £245 million from 13 different sources of funding.

Flood Risk Grants Community Infrastructure Levy

Community Groups

Private Developers Natural EnglandUtility Companies

Funding Secured Since2012

Significant time and effort is required to recognise the benefits of aligning multiple objectives and funding partners. Doing so has allowed us to deliver more holistic outcomes for the communities that we serve.

Click the image to start the video

“We are focussed on the communities we represent, balancing the needs of our Local Authority partners, enhancing the natural environment and adapting to climate change.”

Lyall Cairns, Executive Head, Coastal Partners

Tracer Pebbles

Technology for changing oceans

To design and build fit-for-purpose sea defences, we are always looking to improve our understanding of coastal processes. To help us do this we have developed an innovative method to track the movement of sediment along our beaches.

A simple idea that delivers amazing results

By fitting a locally sourced beach pebble with a unique Radio Frequency Identification tag we receive very valuable information. The ‘Tracer Pebble’ broadcasts a unique ID number which is detected using Global Positioning System equipment and from this our engineers analyse trends in beach behaviour.

By deploying and tracking these pebbles, we collect the patterns of drift which helps to inform local coastal management decisions, aids coastal defence scheme design and guides beach maintenance activities.

New Horizons

Our most recent tracer study is at West Bay in Dorset. 1200 native pebbles were deployed in 2022 and they are now being tracked to understand sediment transport pathways around the harbour and adjoining beaches below the cliffs. This information, combined with analysis of data from the National Network of Regional Monitoring Programmes (https:// coastalmonitoring.org/) and additional topographic and bathymetric data collected through the study, will inform the Beach Management Plans for West Beach and East Beach.

Hurst Spit Study with New Forest District Council

In a recent study 1,300 tracer pebbles were deployed at Hurst Spit to help understand sediment transport pathways. The study highlighted information that had not been revealed in other surveys - the pebbles bypass groynes and rock revetments. It also showed that the offshore breakwater was successful in slowing transport rates of the beach material which in turn, helps to stabilise the beach.

Additionally, no tracer pebbles were found to bypass Hurst Castle over the duration of the study, indicating they may well be taken offshore. Those deployed immediately east of Hurst Castle were shown to rapidly move off north before accumulating on a new mini cuspate foreland feature.

The study provided a wealth of useful insights. The information is being used by New Forest District Council and Environment Agency to inform the Hurst Spit Beach Management Plan and the Lymington to Hurst Spit options development.

“I am really pleased with what the team have produced. It is an extremely interesting and detailed study, which will be tremendously valuable to us as Hurst is progressed. I am impressed, and surprised, with the distance some pebbles appear to have travelled, very useful information.”

Peter Ferguson Coastal Project Engineer, New Forest District Council

Mapping projects are crucial to what we do. This year we have been working for various partners on a range of exciting projects.

Our Geomatics team are experts who help to plan and model coastal defences through the collection, analysis and presentation of a range of geographical data. The surveys that are carried out vary from building and infrastructure to land surveys. This vital data helps to support communities, businesses and environments for generations to come.

Day to day operations have experienced a positive progression this year as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) service has been successfully integrated into both Coastal Monitoring and Construction Site Monitoring. With this in place our monitoring systems are even smoother and more practical to implement.

Demand for topographic surveys in highway, residential and open space landscaping projects continues to grow for our team and they have recently introduced their new service of Underground Utility Mapping. This service will benefit our partners’ understanding of underground utility networks which will help guide project design.

Highlights of the Period

A 20 acre Topographic and Utility Survey of the Golden Grove Estate, Southampton.

Laser Scanning a 17th Century Wall on the Southsea Coastal Scheme

3D mapping Hook Lake Nature Reserve with the help from our top of the range UAV’s

Geomatics

A topographic survey is the recording of the precise location (co-ordinates: easting, northing and elevation) including all the features in the area.

The final product is a highly accurate 2D or 3D map which is used as a basis to model and plan any upcoming design or construction works.

Every ‘topo’ that our Geomatics Team undertakes is unique to the area, but all surveys reflect a true representation of the site.

Image shows a Geomatics survey output of North Portsea Island, shoreline and slipways

North Portsea Island slipways during construction

Storm Monitoring and Response

Big storms hit the UK in 2022 and took their toll on sea defences across the country. Our assets in all our regions experienced damage and disturbance. Fortunately, we have excellent resources in place to respond to the effects of extreme weather.

events. They are a first point of contact to our partners for up to date information on tide levels, beach and weather conditions. As significant coastal events are forecast, they check the deployment of flood equipment and help to ensure that our local communities are kept safe.

Coastal Incident Officers are our eyes and ears before and during storm