Decision details

To seek approval to undertake phase 1 of the Hill Head Coastal Protection Project.  The proposed works involve beach re-nourishment and extensive groyne maintenance at Hill Head and carry out the Detailed Design, including Ground Investigation Works, required for seawall replacement.

The coastal defences at Hill Head include the beach, groynes and seawall. Beach levels have fallen in recent years exposing the sea defences to additional and increased wave action, leading to sea defence failure on frontage ‘A’ (see Appendix A Location Plan). Frontage ‘A’ has now reached the end of its serviceable life and is unable to withstand this additional and increased wave action, failing regularly, leading to expensive repairs. The groynes also require extensive maintenance.

The recommended policy from the River Hamble to Portchester Strategy, adopted by Fareham Borough Council in 2015, is “Maintain protection – Undertake scheduled maintenance and beach recycling to prevent erosion and maintain beaches through the development of a Beach Management Plan (BMP)”. The implementation of a BMP however is yet to be realised.

The Hill Head Coastal Protection Project proposes to address the frontage issues through delivery of two phases:

Phase 1 (commencing 2016) - Beach re-nourishment to replenish historically low beach levels at Hill Head and implement extensive maintenance repairs to Council-owned groynes and progress the detailed design of a replacement seawall along frontage ‘A’ including ground investigation works.

Phase 2 Seawall replacement works to replace failing sea defences along frontage ‘A’ (commencing 2017, subject to a separate Executive Report to be considered in March 2017).

The details set out in this report have been developed in collaboration with the Hill Head Coastal Management Members Working Group, chaired by the Executive Member for Planning and Development.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the beach re-nourishment to replenish the historically low beach levels at Hill Head and implement extensive maintenance repairs to FBC owned groynes at Hill Head;

(b)  approves proceeding with Detailed Design of the replacement seawall along frontage ‘A’ including Ground Investigation works; and

(c)  in the interest of expediency, approves that the Director of Planning and Regulation is given delegated authority to award the contracts to deliver Phase 1 of the Hill Head Coastal Protection Project, after consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development.