Canvey Island southern shoreline revetment project - information page

Closes 31 Oct 2025

Opened 10 May 2021

Overview

This project will maintain the existing high level of tidal flood risk protection to thousands of homes, businesses and infrastructure on Canvey Island into the future, a key aspiration of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. It will protect the tidal defences against erosion and extend their useful life to 2070 in light of increasing sea levels due to climate change.  The works are planned and delivered as part of the Thames Estuary Asset Management (TEAM) 2100 Programme. This is the single largest investment in Canvey Island's tidal defences since they were raised in the early 1980s

The renewing and improving of the revetment on the seaward face of the tidal defences will take place along a 3km stretch between Thorney Bay and the Island Yacht Club as shown on the map below.

Canvey Island southern shoreline map   Canvey Island southern shoreline - red line indicates the area of revetment that we are working on 

Latest news

Fisherman's Corner Ramp

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Concord Beach

Landside embankments

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Progress images - October 2024

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November' s Newsletter

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Programme of works and construction

Details of the construction are explained in more depth within the PDF documents at the bottom of this page and key aspects are summarised below:

Duration of project: the construction will take an anticipated two and half years 

Working hours on low-tide: revetment works are fitted into the low-tide window, hence they take place over an approximate 5-hour period, anywhere between 6am-10pm. Detailed timetable is included in each mothly newsletter below. 

Working hours on landward side: construction works on the landward side of the sea wall to take place in regular working hours (8am-6pm Monday to Friday)

Factors affecting phased delivery of two construction teams' work: 

  • Benfleet and Southend Marshes at the eastern end of the project’s extent, which is an internationally important site for habitat and wildlife and is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and Ramsar (a Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention)
  • The western end of the project area contains a very well used public amenity front with beach areas, tidal pools and a host of amenity features and services.
  • Archaeological fieldwork may also be required to mitigate impacts on any buried archaeological remains within the foreshore
  • A main compound, required for duration of the works, to be located at the end of Eastern Esplanade.
  • Satellite compounds will be required for much shorter durations. Three of these sites will be away from the main compound, at Western Esplanade, Eastern Esplanade car park and Beveland Road respectively

 

Location and phases of compounds

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Map and timeline for the works 

The video below provides a computer simulated representation of the details and key aspects of the project, comparing with the existing site at certain locations along the frontage. Click on the photo for the video to play

Flyover

Background

Canvey Island is very low lying with ground levels nearly two metres below the daily high tide level in the Thames estuary. This means that the entire island is at risk of tidal flooding which could impact more than 15,000 residential properties and this scheme will directly benefit over 6,000 of those residential properties. This risk is managed by 14 miles (23km) of tidal defences which provide a very high standard of protection and were built in response to the last tidal flood event to impact the island in 1953.

Find out more about flood risk on Canvey Island and who is responsible for managing flood risk. Also scroll below for more information on how tidal defences were built and about tidal surges. 

Watch this video to understand better the Thames Estuary 2100 plan for maintaining the standard of protection for communities and infrastructure through the asset management work programme. Video courtesy of Jacobs. 

Flood warning signs

How can I find out more and get involved?

Please keep checking this web page for further updates, as well as our Twitter (@TE2100Plan and @EnvAgencyAnglia). In the meantime you can contact us at: team2100canveyrevetment@jacobs.com

Events

  • Community Information drop-ins

    From 14 Dec 2022 at 17:00 to 31 Dec 2023 at 19:00

    - 14/12/2022 - Jimmy Macs
    - 25/05/2023 - at Canvey Island football club
    - 09/11/2023 - at Starr Sports
    - 17/10/2024 - at Canvey Island football club

  • Monthly Surgeries

    From 7 Feb 2024 at 11:00 to 4 Dec 2024 at 12:00

    The Community Engagement Manager, Param Kingston-Kaur, holds surgeries on the first Wednesday of every month at 11am-12noon, using Sue’s Café on Furtherwick Road. Please drop-in to find out more about the project.

Audiences

  • Businesses
  • Charities
  • Statutory organisations
  • NGOs
  • Members of the public
  • Elected representatives, including MPs
  • Local councils
  • Academics

Interests

  • Business and industry
  • Flood management
  • Coastal management
  • Specific projects, issues, or activity pages