Nearly £5m Worthing coastal defence project completed

A multimillion-pound scheme to strengthen Worthing’s coastal defences and protect homes and businesses from the sea has been completed.

Contractors working for the Environment Agency have spent the past eight months carrying out improvements along the seafront, from Seaview Road to Brooklands Park on the border with Lancing.

The project is intended to protect properties along the seafront and in Worthing town centre from flooding for the next ten years.

A separate longer-term scheme is also being developed with the Environment Agency to help prevent coastal erosion and flooding over the next 50 years.

As part of the latest work, scores of new pile extensions have been installed to replace worn or snapped piles on the town’s groynes.

New planks have also been attached to the structures to help retain shingle on the beach, creating a stronger barrier against waves and reducing the risk of flooding.

Council officers will now monitor shingle levels along the coastline to assess how effectively the repaired groynes are working.

Recently recorded drone footage will be used as the starting point for the monitoring programme.

Extra shingle will be moved onto the beach if levels do not gradually increase enough to provide adequate protection from the sea.

Further planks will still need to be fitted to some of the groynes, but the work has been paused until after the school summer holidays to avoid disrupting people visiting the beach.

Councillor Martin McCabe, Worthing’s cabinet member for environment, said: “This investment in Worthing's coastal defences has been vital to protect the town centre from the sea.

“The groynes look fresh and new and they are visibly already beginning to help the beach to keep hold of the shingle being brought in at high tide.

“By continuing to maintain and improve the defences over the coming years, we can keep the sea at bay so those living, working and investing in our town centre can have confidence about the future.”

The Environment Agency provided the majority of the funding for the scheme, which cost almost £5 million.

Worthing Borough Council contributed £400,000, including £200,000 from developer contributions linked to new housing in the town.

The completion of the coastal defence work comes as the council launches its Pride in Worthing initiative.

The programme aims to create a cleaner and greener town by working with businesses, community groups, residents and other partners.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds are expected to be spent each year on improving and maintaining Worthing town centre and seafront.

Discussions will take place during the summer and autumn to draw up a priority list of work, including a more focused and regular cleansing programme.

Work has also begun on a new masterplan for Worthing, setting out the town’s future needs, potential investment opportunities and plans for long-term economic growth.

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