This Environment Agency scheme aims to increase the resilience of homes, businesses and infrastructure between Cooden Beach and Holywell to coastal flooding and erosion over the next 100 years. The scheme will have important implications for Sovereign Harbour residents, and SHRA is engaging with the EA's project team. It will report to members as the project develops and as EA's plans and options are finalised and communicated. Scheme webpage: www.pevenseyandeastbournecoast.co.uk/
May 2025 - EA Takeover and Future Updates on Beach Management - As you probably know, PCDL's contract ends on 31 May and beach management returns to the Environment Agency (EA). The EA's Short-term (Interim) Project starts in June 2025. There will be no further updates from PCDL. The SHRA committee have wished Amber Carr all the best for the future and Ian Thomas a happy retirement and thanked them for their endeavours in keeping the beach in good shape over the years.
The new Beach Manager is Paul Levitt, who will continue to provide regular updates to residents in the same way PCDL has done. However, due to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), they are unable to transfer your PCDL contact details to the EA. So, if you wish to continue receiving updates, you must advise the Agency yourself.
The EA has created a short survey where you can submit your communication preferences and register your contact details to receive future updates about Pevensey Beach Management activities. The survey is available on their website www.pevenseyandeastbournecoast.co.uk (scroll down).
November 2024 - Autumn Newsletter of Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme. This project covers the flood and coastal erosion risk from Holywell to Cooden Beach. The newsletter has information about preparations for the winter, project updates, and an announcement that when the Environment Agency takes responsibility for Pevensey Beach in June next year, their contactor will be VolkerStevin in place of PCDL. Click here to read the newsletter...
October 2024 - Phase 1 Consultation. The EA have published updated plans to protect Pevensey and Eastbourne from flooding. They estimate some 30,000 cubic square metres of sand and shingle are swept eastwards from Holywell to Cooden Beach annually. Shifting sands in huge dumper trucks back the other way is a key plank of phase one of proposals to protect 18,000 homes and businesses, transport links and other services. With the sand and shingle back in place, the sea will lose power as it hits the beach. View the plans and provide your feedback by clicking here...
21 Nov 2023 - Phase 1 Short List Options - There was a 'pop-in' public exhibition on the Phase 1 options at the Sovereign Harbour Community Centre on Friday, 1st December 2023, from 9.30am to 12pm. An online Q&A session with the project team took place on Monday, 4 December, at 2:00pm, and the scheme's virtual exhibition room was live online between 20 Nov - 15 Dec 2023. Scheme website.
In November 2021 - SHRA arranged an online meeting for members with representatives of Pevensey Coastal Defence Ltd (PCDL), the current contractors, and the Environment Agency (EA) to discuss future plans for sea defence work and learn about the EA's Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme. A video recording of the event and slides from the PCDL and EA presentations are available on this dedicated webpage....
Sovereign Harbour property owners are covenanted to pay towards flood protection work on the local beaches as part of the annual Harbour Rentcharge.
The main reason Harbour residents pay a charge is that the harbour entrance now prevents the natural drift of shingle that would otherwise protect the north harbour beach, so shingle has to be transported to the beach in lorries or supplied by dredger (see the "Shingle Bypassing" panel). That extra work would not be necessary if the harbour didn’t exist.
Until April 2025, the beach work was carried out by Pevensey Coastal Defence Ltd (PCDL) on behalf of the Environment Agency under a 25-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP/PFI) agreement that ended in March 2025. The work is now carried out by the EA using various contractors.
The beaches are monitored and surveyed throughout the year, but most of the shingle work is done during winter.
These are the main activities carried out.
● Recharge - The Shingle lost from the frontage every year has to be replaced. This is done using sea-dredged aggregate brought ashore by dredger Sospan Dau.
● Recycling - Drifting shingle that temporarily builds up in some places is moved back to erosion areas in large dump trucks.
● Reprofiling - Shingle is drawn down the beach in storms. It is pushed back to ensure the beach crest width remains wide enough.
● Groynes - The number of groynes is being considerably reduced.
● Beach surveys - identify any weaknesses in the defences and quantify when works need to be implemented.
The annual shingle transfer or 'bypassing' work involves scooping up large quantities of shingle from the South Harbour beaches and then transporting it by truck to the North Harbour beach.
Shingle builds up on the south side of Sovereign Harbour because the southern harbour arm and the dredged entrance channel prevent the natural drift of shingle onward to the North Harbour beaches. This shingle build-up must be transferred to replenish the shingle leaving the North Harbour beach.
The bypassing is done in the winter and typically lasts two weeks. Due to the narrowing of the beach frontage caused by the building of the White Point development on Site 1, the beach area is fenced off for pedestrian safety while the bypassing is being carried out.
The bypassing is essential to help replenish the shingle lost by tidal drift from the north beaches that protect the developments; also, without it, the seaward entrance to the harbour would become blocked by the build-up of the shingle.
PCDL Bypassing Info Sheet...
More info on the PCDL website >
