Alverstoke Coastal Defence Scheme - August 2022 Update

Construction work on the sea defences at Alverstoke has been put on hold until further notice. The two main reasons for this decision include:

• The location of several high-voltage cables close to the proposed work and difficulties in safely working around these. We're liaising with a specialist from the utility provider on a solution to this, with safety as a priority. 

• Severe pressures in the civil engineering industry, such as high inflation, increased demand for materials and longer delivery times. We're working to ensure that the scheme remains affordable in the current climate and are in discussions with the Environment Agency on how best to secure additional funding.

While solutions are found, work has stopped and the area will be reinstated to allow the causeway to re-open to the public. The site will be closed and the fencing currently in place will remain until the reinstatement works are successfully completed

The council is still committed to much-needed improvements to coastal defences in the area, to reduce the flood risk to 130 properties in Alverstoke over the next 50 years.  

Options are currently being considered for resuming the project, but it's unlikely that work would re-start until 2023 at the earliest.