Fifteen thousand tonnes of granite rocks are set to be heaped on the beach to stop a shoreline road dubbed Millionaire’s Row falling into the sea.
The rock armour revetment to the west of Western Esplanade, home to celebrities including Fatboy Slim and David Walliams, is part of a £35.3 million scheme to protect Brighton and Hove’s coastline.
The 15-year project will protect not just the houses in the seafront row, but also scores of nearby businesses including Shoreham Power Station and Shoreham Sewage Pumping Station.
If nothing was done, experts say they would all be lost to erosion by 2040.
Western Esplanade Management Company itself is contributing £81,061, and Brighton and Hove City Council £6.3 million.
The rest is coming from Adur District Council, Shoreham Port Authority and the government, which has approved more than £12 million in funding.
Brighton and Hove City Council this month submitted an application to its planning department for the rocks.
The application, written by JBA Consulting, says: “The shingle beach along the frontage provides the main form of coastal defence and is controlled by a series of timber, rock, masonry and concrete groynes.
“Historic storm events have previously led to flooding of commercial premises and properties along Brighton seafront and on adjacent roads.
“Emergency repair works have been undertaken to repair breaches in seawalls and some structures, but many remain in a collapsed or partially collapsed condition.
“The proposed scheme aims to achieve a consistent standard of protection along the coastal frontage in six locations to reduce the risk of coastal erosion and coastal flooding through the refurbishment of existing defence assets where required, and the construction of new assets.
“Consequently, it will provide material benefits by reducing erosion and flood risk to people, property and the environment.
“This will include protection for eight residential and 73 commercial properties (including Shoreham Sewage Pumping Station and Shoreham Power Station), and reduction in flood risk for a further six residential and eight commercial properties.”
Another application is being submitted to Adur District Council for a second rock revetment further west along the beach.
Its estimated they will use 15,000 tonnes of granite rock, sourced from Lydd in Kent. If approved, they will be built later this year.
Yes but remember that climate change activists are still the looney extremists.. 🤭
Norman Cook says: “Rocks here, fellas. Thanks!”