Purpose

The report seeks approval for project
delivery of the Hill Head to Portsmouth Harbour Beach Management Plan.  The proposed works involve beach renourishment
along the coastal frontage between Hill Head and Portsmouth Harbour Entrance.  The approval for project delivery includes
draw down of project funding, licensing and consents, procurement, and
construction under the beach management plan.

 

The report seeks approval to implement
the Hill Head to Portsmouth Harbour Beach Management Plan (BMP) 2024-2034, with
construction works identified for financial year 2025/26 and 2026/27.

 

The BMP is derived from the
adopted River Hamble to Portchester Strategy (2015) which recommended Beach
Management as the preferred option to reduce coastal flooding and erosion risk
to the communities between Hill Head and Portsmouth Harbour Entrance, whilst
enhancing the environment and amenity value of the coastline over the next 10
years. The BMP also aligns with the adopted North Solent Shoreline Management
Plan (2010) which recommends a policy of ‘Hold the Line’ for the entire frontage.

 

The BMP works will provide up to
10 years’ worth of benefits.  These will
be undertaken at different locations in priority order, up to the project funding
available, depending on the assets at risk behind the beach.   These will be categorised by considering the
risk to property, key infrastructure, existing ‘hard’ defences (e.g seawalls), and the amenity value.

 

The BMP has been developed from
extensive coastal modelling and technical analysis to develop the beach
recycling parameters.  This will continue
post works, to monitor performance and plan any further works.

 

While the geographical extent of
the NMP crosses the local authority boundaries of both Gosport Borough Council (GBC)
and Fareham Borough Council (FBC), each authority will take responsibility for
its own works delivery and consenting. 
These projects will be managed by Coastal Partners via an existing
shared service agreement to ensure the overall BMP objectives are met.

 

Funding for the project has been allocated
through the Environment Agency’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid and Other Government
Department funding and will be approved should the Outline Business case be successful.  The project will seek additional funding
where this can increase the outputs delivered under the project.

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive
agrees:

 

(a)  the implementation
of the Hill Head to Portsmouth Harbour Beach Management Plan 2024-2034;

 

(b)  to
submit the Outline Business Case to the Environment Agency to secure funding;

 

(c)  the
submission of planning and consenting for the proposed works in Fareham; and

 

(d)  that
the Director of Planning and Regeneration be authorised to procure and
subsequently enter into an agreement to enable delivery of these works.