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, 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 - red line indicates the area of revetment that we will be working on

Programme of works and construction

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

• The construction will take an anticipated two and half years in duration.
• Revetment works are fitted into the low-tide window, meaning works will take place over an approximate 5-hour period, anywhere between 6am-10pm. See detailed timetable below. 
• Construction works on the landward side of the sea wall to take place in regular working hours (8am-6pm Monday to Friday).
• 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 and Beveland Road respectively

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

January 2023

Contractors working on behalf of the Environment Agency begun establishing the main compound, material storage compound and satellite compound 1 from 3 January onwards.

February 2023

This month we had to close Fisherman's Corner footpath to use manchinery to install:

• a single concrete test pile  
• the temporary haul road and
• ramps to allow us to construct the replacement revetment

March 2023

• Preparations for satellite compound 4 
• Cabins installed at the main compound
• Work began on Lower Haul Road
• Test pile works commenced on Fisherman’s Corner

April 2023

As mentioned above we commenced work on the revetment side and according to the low-tide window which means starting early on some days.  

Check out important footpath diversion map and site notice to find your way around the area. This will be updated as and when work progresses. 

• We connected to mains electricity at the main compound, reducing the need for generators. The compound was surfaced so that site vehicles can park instead of along the eastern end of Eastern Esplanade.
• We started the jet washing of the revetment in the Thorney Bay area to remove any seaweed and debris.
• This needs to be removed before the new revetment can be laid. Seaweed and other marine plants will recolonise the new revetment once the works are complete.
• Disabled parking is now closed in the Thorney Bay area.

May 2023

• We began work to remove seaweed from the existing revetment which has allowed us to begin placing the new revetment in Thorney Bay.
• Preparatory works continued between the Thorney Bay and the Welcome Hut. We created a temporary wider crest to sit the heavy machinery upon which is needed to lay the revetment. The footpath here is closed but the Bay Café is open.
• Installation of ramps and work on the temporary access road at Leigh Beck.
• Removal of benches at Beveland Road on the seaward side. We placed these in a safe area until our works are complete.
• Preparatory works on the revetment to lay the Open Stone Asphalt (OSA) at Leigh Beck. 
• Continued with the Open Stone Asphalt (OSA) works in the Thorney Bay area.

June 2023

• Continued to place Open Stone Asphalt (OSA) and Lean Sand Asphalt (LSA) in the Thorney Bay area. 
• Continued to construct the access road at the top of the embankment at Leigh Beck. 
• Made good progress on the eastern end of the island at compound 4 where preparatory works for the laying of the revetment are taking place
• Continue preparatory works to lay OSA and LSA at Thorney Bay.
• Commence installation of the first set of precast concrete steps at Thorney Bay. 
• Breakout the existing ramp at Fisherman’s Corner in preparation for the construction of the new wider access ramp.

July 2023

• Continued to place Open Stone Asphalt (OSA) and Lean Sand Asphalt (LSA) in the Thorney Bay area.
• Commenced the installation of the first set of precast concrete steps at Thorney Bay.
• Completing the installation of the test piles at Fisherman’s
  Corner. The testing of the piles is planned for August.
• Installed the Riverside Passing Places associated with the
  Maintenance Access Track.
• Removed possible ‘trip hazards’ to the existing Maintenance
  Access Track slabs in the Thorney Bay and Leigh Beck areas.
• The temporary rock revetment removal and also placement of
  OSA/LSA at Leigh Beck.
• The demolition of the access ramp at Fisherman’s Corner.

See below working hours for mid July to mid August

August 2023

• Completing the test piles at Fisherman’s Corner.
• Installing the Riverside Passing Places associated with the
  Maintenance Access Track.
• Replacing slabs on the existing maintenance access track that
  present a trip hazard in the Thorney Bay and Leigh Beck areas.
• Temporary rock revetment removal and also placement of
  OSA/LSA at Leigh Beck.
• Demolition of the access ramp at Fisherman’s Corner.
• Continuing works on the Maintenance Access Track in the
  Thorney Bay and Leigh Beck areas.
• Testing the piles at Fisherman’s Corner.
• Carrying out survey works to identify walkway slabs in the
  Labworth and Chapmans Sands areas which present a trip
  hazard and require replacement

See below working hours for mid August to mid September

September 2023

• Carried out the demolition of the Fisherman’s Corner ramp.
• Continued with placing Open Stone Asphalt (OSA) and Lean Sand Asphalt (LSA) at Leigh Beck.
• Replaced maintenance access slabs to the riverward side track.
• Completed the first of the passing places at the base of the pedestrian steps at Thorney Bay.
• Completed the OSA lay along the far eastern frontage and met our time constraint outlined by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO)

See below the working hours for mid September to early October

Octomber 2023

• Start the permanent piling to the new Fisherman’s Corner ramp.
• Continue to place OSA/LSA at Leigh Beck.
• Start work on compound 2 which will be situated in the car park opposite the Moviestarr Cinema on Eastern Esplanade.
• Work on the construction of the new foreshore steps.

Map and timeline for the works (also available from the list of PDF documents below)

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 video of Canvey Island revetment works

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.