The Environment Agency has launched the Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme, which is designed to start by helping to protect more than 3,000 properties.
It is one of the country’s largest coastal flood risk schemes, jointly led by the Environment Agency and Eastbourne Borough Council.
Beach management of Pevensey Bay has, for the past 25 years, been carried out under a public-private partnership.
Responsibility for minimising flood risk by moving thousands of tonnes of shingle (pebbles) along the 8.5km shoreline is now transferring to the Environment Agency.
With sea levels expected to rise by more than one metre over the next century, project leaders say this investment will help the coastline adapt to these changing conditions.
The beach serves a dual purpose as both a recreational area and a vital component of coastal flood defence.
Project Director Nick Gray said: “This is a major governmental project and is one of the largest coastal defence projects in the country.
“Eight million pounds is to be invested over the next two years to maintain the shingle beach to reduce risk of flooding.
“The community will see an off-shore barge spraying shingle on to the beach – we call this ‘rainbowing’.
“Over the course of the project we will be importing 25,000 tonnes of shingle to make the beach bigger.
“This is just the first phase of longer-term plans to protect up to 18,000 properties over the next 100 years.
A new survey has been launched to gather residents’ perspectives on the Pevensey to Eastbourne coastline to inform the ‘Longer Term Strategy’.
Any feedback will directly inform the Seafront Strategy and contribute to shaping the 100-year coastal management plan starting from 2037.
