A Different Approach To Protecting Our Storm Lashed Coastline

Having spent the last week reporting how our coastline is reeling under the cosh of the autumn storms, and how coastal defences are being reinforced at some cost all around the country, a more interesting way of working with nature is coming out of West Sussex, an area of Britain where the coastline is always fighting a battle for survival.

Playing give and take with the sea

Yesterday saw the completion of a scheme to combat flooding by way of a controlled surrender at Medmerry. Large sums of money have once again been expended (£28 million and counting), and new sea walls have been constructed.

But what is different here is that the new sea walls have been constructed some two kilometres inland, effecting conceding land to the sea, to greatly reduce flooding. It is a perfect example of choosing your battleground so that you can increase your chances of winning.

By letting the waters in, the Environment Agency takes the view that the risk of flooding for hundreds of home will be reduced, with the surrendered land becoming a wetland habitat for many species.

Jutting out into the sea as it does, the Manhood Peninsula on the coast between Portsmouth and Worthing has long fought a battle with the elements, and local caravan parks have suffered flooding on several occasions.

The plan that the Environment Agency has been working on for the last two years has been described as the country's largest ever coastal flood realignment scheme, but it has been an exercise in give and take, requiring the destruction of the existing sea wall at Medmerry and giving back to the sea some of the land nearest to the coast.

"We have made a hole in the sea wall," the Environment Agency's flood and coastal risk manager, Andrew Gilham, said. "But before doing that we've actually built 7km of new defences further inland from the coast. What we've been able to create here is an area that can absorb the energy of the waves and reduce the flood risk to people."

Although the new walls are set closer to local communities, the Agency points out that homes are much better protected as a result, with the development able to withstand a once in a thousand year flood.

EU legislation is once again at the heart of the matter, with the requirement that compensation be  paid for the loss of wildlife habitat through development. The Medmerry scheme makes up for the loss of similar conservation areas in and around the Solent.

"It is not politically driven," said Mr Gilham. "But the benefit of creating the habitat here is not only to reduce flood risk in this area but also to reduce flood risk to communities in Portsmouth and Southampton. "If we weren't able create habitat here we wouldn't be able to do those defences."
"Even in construction, we're seeing lots of migratory birds using this area," he continued,  "It is already starting to be used by the wildlife. It's a massive nature reserve and a massive opportunity on the south coast."

Local people are crossing their fingers that letting the sea in will not only protect their homes but boost the local economy as well. Alan Chamberlain is the estate manager of the newly renamed Medmerry Park holiday village. His business, located next door to the new habitat, is actually below sea level.

"In the past we have been very close to flooding, and now we've got a one-in-one-thousand-year protection, one of the best in the country actually. For us it's a win win, it will encourage visitors to the site, birdwatchers and those interested in nature."

By coincidence, the new development will be facing its first big test on the day it opened,  as it will see one of the highest tides of the year. But the Environment Agency are fully confident it will pass with flying colours.

Medmerry is one of a number of managed realignment projects that the Environment Agency are involved in. Andrew Gilham says it's part of a new approach. "Rather than fighting it, we are working with nature," he explained.

"It's an important change in approach, you can only keep building bigger and bigger defences for so long. We have to ask if we can make better use of public money. Certainly the habitat we are creating here is important to the broader ecosystem and the broader economy of the country by encouraging people to visit remote areas."

The scale of the £28m development is tremendous. The new area between the new earthen walls and the sea comprises 183 hectares of land that the Agency says will rapidly become a saltwater marsh, with potentially huge benefits for wildlife in the area. It will be managed by the RSPB.