Work is underway on the Medmerry managed realignment scheme, between Selsey and Bracklesham in West Sussex. This is where we are building major new sea defences inland from the coast and allowing a new intertidal area to form. The scheme has been developed with the help of a wide range of community representatives.
The scheme will greatly improve the standard of flood protection for over 300 homes, the water treatment works and the main road into Selsey. It will also create important new wildlife habitat and open up new footpaths, cycleways and bridleways. There will also be two small car parks created.
Work started in September 2011, and is planned to be complete by spring 2013.
Why is the scheme needed?
Medmerry is one of the stretches of coastline most at risk of flooding in southern England. Following extensive consultation, we recommended in the 2008 Pagham to East Head Coastal Defence Strategy that managed realignment was the preferred option for Medmerry. This is where we build new defences inland from the coast and allow a new inter tidal area to form seaward of these new defences. This scheme will provide an improved standard of protection against flooding for infrastructure and local communities.
Because the existing Medmerry defences are at risk of breaching, we want to finish the scheme to improve flood risk protection as soon as we can. The need for new inter-tidal habitat to replace losses across the Solent has been recognised as a pressing issue that can be addressed through the Medmerry scheme. This has enabled us to negotiate fair deals with owners to purchase much of the land that will be directly affected by the re-alignment scheme. We continue to work with the owners of the remaining land within the re-alignment area.
How has the scheme been developed and who has been involved?
We have involved local residents throughout the development of the Medmerry scheme. Key to this local engagement is the Medmerry Stakeholder Advisory Group (MStAG), which has been actively inputting into the scheme design. We worked with local residents and interest groups to establish MStAG in 2009.
Our planning application to Chicester District Council was approved on 24 November 2010. The application and comments received are on Chichester Council's website.
See the story of Medmerry in photographs.
What will Medmerry look like when the scheme is complete?
More information
Newsletters
Keep up to date with our e-newsletter each month:
Email us if you'd like to receive it directly to your inbox:
Contact us
If you need to speak to anyone about the scheme during construction, contact our Public Liaison Officer on
07917 048912.
This page was updated on 9 May 2012.
