Canvey Island southern shoreline revetment project - information page

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.  

Feedback

We will apply for the necessary consents and permissions to deliver the scheme in early 2022. We welcome your comments on anything we haven’t already taken into account. Please get in touch by Friday 8 November 2021 at: Team2100@jacobs.com

Background

We will be renewing and improving the erosion protection on the seaward face of the tidal defences, known as revetment. This will take place along a 3km stretch between Thorney Bay and the Island Yacht Club as shown on the map below.

Map: Canvey Island southern shoreline. Red line indicates the area of revetment that we will be working on

This project will better protect the tidal defences against erosion and extend their useful life to 2070 in light of increasing sea levels due to climate change. These works extend the high standard of tidal flood risk protection provided by the Canvey Island tidal defences into the future, a key aspiration of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan.

The works are planned to be delivered as part of the Thames Estuary Asset Management (TEAM) 2100 Programme.


Progress made since our last update (May 2021)

1. Design

We have developed key aspects of the scheme’s design in consultation with numerous partners, including Castle Point Borough Council and Canvey Island Town Council, which we are now sharing with you. Details of the design are explained in more depth within the PDF documents at the bottom of this page, but the key aspects are summarised below:

• An open stone asphalt revetment will be installed from Thorney Bay to north of Leigh Beck Point, with the exception of the immediate area of the Concorde Cafe
• This new revetment will be laid at a shallower angle and beach material retained
• A wider seaward walkway at key “pinch points” such as at the base of steps

Above: The existing angle of the revetment (illustrative location shown)

Below: The angle of the new revetment

• Fisherman’s Corner – the existing viewing platform is contained within the wider seaward walkway area at the top of the new revetment slope angle laid at a shallower angle. This provides access for all to enjoy the views as stepped access to a platform is no longer required.

Above: The existing Fisherman’s Corner (illustrative location shown)

Below: The new arrangement

• Complete replacement of all steps to the beach
• A new “hard” surface to the footpath on the top of the landward side of the sea wall all the way from Thorney Bay to Chapman Sands
• Improved ramp and floodgate access in key locations to allow vehicles through and over the sea wall for future maintenance activities

2. Construction

We have refined our planning for the scheme’s construction phase which we are now sharing with you. Details of the design are explained in more depth within the PDF documents at the bottom of this page, but the key aspects are summarised below:

• An anticipated two and half years duration from summer 2022
• Revetment works are fitted into the low-tide window, meaning works will take place over an approximate 5-hour period anywhere between 6am-10pm
• Construction works on the landward side of the sea wall to take place in regular working hours
• A phased delivery using two construction teams working at locations and times of the year influenced by:
  • 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 & Beveland Road respectively

Map: Red circles show the main and satellite compound locations of varying durations

3. Stakeholder engagement

We have used the summer to meet and discuss the proposed scheme with local stakeholders as well as continuing to consult with key professional partners such as Castle Point Borough Council, Canvey Island Town Council, Essex County Council Highways and Anglian Water.

• May 2021 – we met with local businesses located in front of, on top of, or immediately behind the sea wall to introduce and discuss the project and act upon any feedback
• July 2021 – we met virtually with local businesses within the Eastern Esplanade amenity area to introduce and discuss the project and act upon any feedback
• September 2021 - we met virtually with local residents close to the proposed compound locations to introduce and discuss the project and act upon any feedback

We have also provided updates to Rebecca Harris MP and local councillors on the Island. We have also worked with Castle Point Borough Council and Canvey Island Town Council to make sure printed pamphlets outlining the scheme are publically available in their respective offices.

Next steps

We are working hard to complete the detailed design for the scheme as well as progressing the design for the specific works required around the Concorde Café. All of which are due to be completed by early 2022.

We are also beginning to explore the possibility of holding further face-to-face engagement on Canvey Island over the remainder of 2021 and into early 2022.

We are developing applications for various permissions, licenses and consents, some of which are detailed below. All must be agreed and in-place before we start any works on-site. We plan to submit these applications in early 2022 ahead of a starting on-site in summer 2022.

• Planning permission is required for the main and satellite compound locations
• A Lawful Development Certificate is required for all of the construction works themselves
• A River Works Licence and Marine Licence from the Marine Management Organisation are also required for the works to the tidal defences
• A noise consent (s61)
• Temporary footpath closure permits