November 2025 Update

As you will be aware, in March this year the Planning and Marine Licence applications for the Langstone Coastal Scheme were submitted to Havant Borough Council and the Marine Management Organisation for consideration. Whilst we await their decision, this update has been prepared to outline the plan ahead, so you know what to expect.

We wish to assure you that we plan to maintain our communication with the Langstone community prior to and during the works and welcome your continued involvement and feedback in our future engagement.

What is happening now?

Earlier in 2025 we reported greater funding certainty, having secured a significant investment from Environment Agency Other Government Department (OGD) funding. Through undertaking an updated benefits assessment, we have also identified further eligibility potential for Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA). This gave us confidence to submit applications for the relevant licences and consents including a Planning Application in March 2025. We are currently awaiting the decisions.

Greater funding certainty also meant that we have been able to commence procurement of a specialised Contractor to construct the scheme. We have recently shared that the programme for this has been delayed, which is in August's update below.

We anticipate the council preparing to award a contract in mid-2026.

The potential impacts of the Scheme have been thoroughly assessed as part of the Planning and Marine Licence applications, specifically within the Environmental Statement. You can access this on the Havant Borough Council Website - (Search for application ref APP/25/00162).

Specific information on the works themselves such as methods, programming, access, traffic management cannot be finalised until a contractor is appointed and the relevant consents approved. The contractor’s tender will also provide a greater cost certainty for the works so we can determine whether enough funding has been secured to fully complete the project.

What happens next?

Our current priority is to find and appoint a suitable Contractor so that as we receive our consents, the Council can make an immediate start on the delivery programme for the Scheme. It is likely we will make an announcement of the successful contractor next summer and move into a ‘pre-construction’ stage which will lead up to construction beginning on site in April 2027.

Construction is planned to be from April 2027 to November 2028, with some sections of our works to be undertaken across two working windows (April - November 2027, and April - November 2028) due to the environmental restrictions that protect overwintering bird populations within Langstone and Chichester Habours.

We will also finalise our wider plans for community engagement before and during construction and share information on these (including drop-in sessions, monthly bulletins, information boards and more!)

What happens during the pre-construction stage?

As the project progresses into pre-construction stage, we will have the benefit of the successful contractor joining the project team. Ultimately, they will advise us how they plan to build the scheme in the best way possible, setting out a detailed methodology and programme (i.e. what they will do, how they will do it, and when they will do it), and how they will minimise the impact of the work on the Langstone Community. We will work with the Contractor to discharge any planning and marine licence conditions, which are likely to require detailed construction and design details. The precise conditions will only become known following a decision by the Local Planning Authority and Marine Management Organisation if the submission is approved.

Properties assessed as being physically affected can expect to receive further written correspondence from Havant Borough Council (or our appointed Land Management Agents) in due course as we seek to agree the necessary access requirements with multiple properties to construct the scheme. We are in the process of procuring specialist support to help with these landowner negotiations, and if this is relevant to your property they will also want to engage with you directly.

How do I stay up to date with wider scheme progress?

These pages will continue to be updated as the project progresses.

The scheme newsletter will continue to be distributed with regular project updates from 2026. To receive future editions, please sign up at bit.ly/CoastalPartnersNews. Versions will also be made available on our project webpages and a printed copy will be added to a noticeboard in Langstone village.

We will also be providing regular updates via our social media channels. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

August 2025 Update

Earlier this year, in addition to our planning application submission, the search for an industry leading contractor started.  

However, whilst there had been good progress, unfortunately we have encountered a significant delay to construction which is now expected to commence in Spring 2027 (subject to securing the necessary consents and funding).

What has happened?

Everyone is disappointed that despite the progress made this summer, it has become necessary to re-invite the contractors to tender for the works.

Further investigation of the initial procurement process (which was managed through a third party), found that the contract opportunity was not advertised in compliance with Procurement Regulations (2023). Without compliant procurement notices, the Council is at risk of the process being legally challenged at any time. 

Havant Borough Council have since brought procurement back in-house and will support Coastal Partners in the retendering process.

We understand and appreciate the disappointment this may cause and recognise the extended risk from winter storms without a flood risk management scheme in place. We remain committed to securing ongoing support from the community to deliver a fully funded scheme to reduce your long-term flood and erosion risk.

Whilst we work to reprogramme for construction may we take this opportunity to encourage all residents consider their existing flood risk and take any local property level actions they feel is necessary. Further information to assess your property flood risk and plan ahead is available.

What happens next?

The project team have taken immediate action to recover from this setback and maintains full confidence in the ability to procure a contractor and deliver the benefits of a scheme to the Langstone community. There was a high quality of response from contractors to the initial procurement invitations and we are encouraged that there is a high level of interest from suppliers to construct the scheme and deliver the benefits to Langstone residents and businesses.

There is no impact on the ongoing planning consultation. The additional time presents an unexpected opportunity to progress further with planning and highways approvals, reducing construction impacts for the community. There is also the opportunity to address any concerns raised during the consultation.

More time will also enable a measured approach to discharging any planning conditions in due course if the project is to secure permission. With the benefit of a contractor on board early in 2026 we will collaboratively optimise the design, identify efficiencies and improved outcomes for both public realm and the environment.

We also will use the additional of time to continue to meet with impacted residents and businesses and provide everyone more clarity and certainty about what to expect as the project moves toward construction. The project communication plan will be expanded to account for the project delays.

We will be updating our project webpages to reflect the extended programme, including plans for future engagement shortly. Any enquiries can be sent to our project team at Langstone-FCERM@havant.gov.uk

On behalf of the project team, we thank you for your continued support.

What is the Langstone FCERM Scheme?

A Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Scheme is being developed at Langstone, Hampshire.

Over the next 100 years, over 120 homes in Langstone are at risk of tidal flooding in an extreme event. The aim of this scheme is to develop and implement coastal management options to reduce the flood and erosion risk to the community, important heritage assets and Langstone Road (A3023) the only road crossing to Hayling Island. See background to the scheme, and progress made to date.

The options appraisal phase led to the development of leading options for defences. These options have now undergone detailed design, ready for presentation to the Community. 

Detailed design has been undertaken for the leading options of the Core and Additional Scheme. For further information on what these areas include please visit the ‘Core and Additional Scheme’ page.