Urgent repairs needed on failing sea defences

URGENT repairs need to be made to failing sea defences at Hythe foreshore, the landowner has confirmed.

Documents submitted to New Forest District Council state the rock revetment on the east and north sides of the Shipyards Estate in Shore Road, which is owned by Taylor Wimpey, has deteriorated and needs remediation work.

A screening opinion has been submitted to NFDC by marine consultancy ABPmer on behalf of Taylor Wimpey, which determines the type of environmental reports needed ahead of any work.

The documents state: “The existing rock revetment was designed to provide scour protection to the adjacent sea wall that was constructed at the time of the new-build residential developments.

“[It] has moved and slumped over the last 10 years. There is now a steep section close to the sea wall and a shallower section towards the base where the rocks have washed out and scattered on to the adjacent foreshore.”

The statement added: “This is threatening failure of the underlying fill upon which it is constructed and the stability of the precast concrete wall, the toe of which is, in some places, exposed.”

As some buildings are only two to three metres from the sea wall, the remedial work must be carried out urgently to avoid further damage, it added.

This will involve an extension of the original revetment on to the foreshore of around 2.5 metres. The statement said: “The proposed design is more robust and will avoid any future washout and the associated risk of undermining the existing sea wall, which is providing a coastal and flood protection function to the private estate.”

Construction is estimated to take around six months and would start in March 2021. It is unknown at this stage how much the work would cost. The Shipyards Estate Residents’ Association is set to be consulted to ensure noise and disturbance is kept to a minimum. There will be no impact on sea users.

Supporting the plans was chair of Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, Cllr Malcolm Wade, who told the A&T: “The costal defences in that area are a concern. Any work to strengthen the defences is welcome and I look to NFDC to properly look at the whole length of our sea wall, as they are the responsible authority, and make sure it is fit for purpose.”

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties told the A&T: “This site is part of a legacy development we acquired more than a decade ago and as a responsible homebuilder we’d like to undertake some improvement works.”