Cost of new coastal defences in North Norfolk rockets by £10m
North Norfolk District Council wants to install new and improved defences along Cromer and Mundesley
Last updated 4th Sep 2023
The cost of shoring up sea defences along two stretches of the Norfolk coast, and protecting hundreds of homes and businesses, has rocketed by £10m.
North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) wants to install new and improved defences along Cromer and Mundesley to reduce the risk of coastal erosion.
While the authority had previously expected the two schemes to cost around £14.1m, it has now risen to £25m.
An application for an extra £10.5m in funding has been submitted to the Environment Agency (EA), a government body which has already agreed to fund much of the projects’ costs.
The increase has been blamed on inflation dramatically pushing up prices for materials and labour.
Plans for the Cromer scheme include refurbishments to the timber groynes – wooden structures built perpendicular to the shore – steel sheet piling installed, and rock armour added on the western end of defences.
Plans for Mundesley include extra rock protections, concrete block fortifications getting bolstered and improved access between the beach café and old lifeboat ramp.
Tim Adams, a Cromer councillor and leader of NNDC, said the works were “absolutely essential”.
“These plans will protect and enhance our existing sea defences and ensure that they working to protect homes and businesses.”
A report to NNDC cabinet on Monday – which will discuss the schemes – said the EA “have acknowledged these costs and have indicated that they may be able to cover these costs”.
Planning applications for the works were submitted in April.
If the EA does not agree to the full funding Mr Adams said the work would still have to be completed at some point but may not happen as quickly.
Cromer’s works will be phase two of an extended scheme – the first phase of which was finished in 2015 at a cost of £8m, which helped to repair damage from devastating storms in 2013.