Protecting the Future of North Portsea Island

Protecting the Future of North Portsea Island

The North Portsea Island Scheme 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. Predictions also indicate that sea levels are set to rise by up to a meter over the next 100 years, meaning the flood risk to the area will increase. 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.

Engagement with the Public and Stakeholders

Early in 2014 we held 4 public exhibition events where the plans for coastal defences were showcased. Over 360 people attended the events and completed a questionnaire. The overwhelming majority of people recognised the need for new coastal defences around North Portsea Island. The consultation events allowed us to gather useful information from the public and wider stakeholders that fed into the option selection and design process.

Working with engineers, ecologists, heritage professionals and with support from the results of the consultation events, preferred coastal defence options for each phase were decided in 2014. This allowed the Scheme to be divided into five discrete phases.

Phase 1 - Anchorage Park 2015 - 2016: the construction of 1.4km of earth embankment with rock revetment toe completed in 2016 at a cost of c.£5m;

Phase 2 - Milton Common 2016:  the construction of 1.5km of a set back earth embankments and rock revetment structure, completed in 2016 at £3m;)

Phase 3 - Tipner Lake 2017 - 2019: (is the construction of 1.9km of a seawall which commenced April 2017 and is programmed for completion by the end of Autumn 2019;

Phase 4a&b – (a)Eastern Road and (b)Kendall’s Wharf 2019 - 2022: is the construction of a seawall with road raising at the entrance to Kendall’s Wharf; 

Phase 5 – Ports Creek 2023 - 2024: Currently going through a detailed design review which once complete will lead to the procurement of the contractor.