Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme
Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK · Short-term (2025-2027); Medium-term (2027–2037); Long-term Strategy (2037 onwards)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe scheme marks the return of operational responsibility to the Environment Agency after 25 years under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement (Pevensey Coastal Defence Limited). - The project emphasizes coordinated action and collaborative working with partners and local communities to deliver wider benefits beyond flood and erosion management. - Community engagement is a key component, with surveys to shape the 100-year coastal management plan. - The scheme is one of the largest coastal flood risk projects in the country.
Key engineering challenges
Adapting to rising sea levels and changing coastal conditions along a varied 15km coastline (chalk cliffs, shingle beaches, promenades, marina). - Managing the movement of thousands of tonnes of shingle to maintain beach levels for flood protection. - Strengthening resilience and protecting important infrastructure, heritage sites, and local businesses. - Developing sustainable approaches for long-term coastal management, including upgrades to existing groynes.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Environment Agency; Eastbourne Borough Council; East Sussex County Council; Rother District Council; Wealden District Council
- Lead contractor
- VolkerStevin (for short-term operational beach activities)
- Lead designers
- JBA Consulting (partner)
- Project type
- upgrade | refurbishment | managed realignment
- Scale
- Protects over 3,000 homes and businesses in the short term, aiming to safeguard up to 18,000 properties over the next century; manages 8.5km of Pevensey Bay frontage (short-term); combines 15km Eastbourne and Pevensey Bay coastal frontage (medium-term); involves moving thousands of tonnes of shingle.
- Disciplines
- civil; coastal engineering; environmental; hydraulic
- Standards & frameworks
- Relevant UK coastal flood and erosion risk management strategies; aims to increase resilience over 100 years.
Sources: "Pevensey to Eastbourne: Creating a coastline for the future", Engage Environment Agency, 2026, https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/peveb_home - "Under new management: Pevensey Bay scheme to protect community", GOV.UK, 2025, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/under-new-management-pevensey-bay-scheme-to-protect-community - "Pevensey to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme", Sussex Bay, https://www.sussexbay.org.uk/pevensey-to-eastbourne-coastal-management-scheme - "Pevensey to Eastbourne Phase 1 survey", Environment Agency, https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/solent-and-south-downs/pevensey-to-eastbourne-phase-1-survey/