Start for £100m Southsea coastal defences

A joint venture between VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster (VSBW) will start work within weeks on Southsea’s £100m coastal defence plan, according to Construction Enquirer.

The joint venture will demolish and strengthen defences along a 4.5km of coastline from the Long Curtain Moat in the west to the Eastney Battery in the east.

Present plans will split the works into half a dozen phases to be delivered over eight years.

Neil Dorling, VSBW project manager, says: “We are very pleased to be starting work on the coastal defence scheme in Southsea.

“VSBW will begin the first phase of work between Long Curtain Moat and Clarence Pier in the coming weeks, whilst we finalise plans.”

Phase one works will take up to 18 months and start with the demolition of the existing seawall and the construction of a compound area with a public information office.

Funding was the final hurdle the Portsmouth City Council project had to overcome for the project to be given the go ahead three months ago.

The project team worked closely with the Environment Agency to secure approval, despite unprecedented demands placed upon central government finances at that time.

Cllr Hugh Mason, Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & City Development, said at the time: “This is excellent news and it is the culmination of many years of planning and careful negotiation.

“The scheme has been challenging because we had to plan not just to build sea defences but to plan them in a way which would protect and enhance the unique character of the Southsea seafront, so loved by both local people and visitors.”

Once finished, the scheme will protect over 10,000 residential and 700 non-residential properties in Southsea from coastal flooding, according to Construction Enquirer.