Gosport Flood Protection Plans Move Forward

Plans to reduce the risk of tidal flooding to more than 500 Gosport, Hampshire, homes have taken major steps forward, the Gosport Borough Council said in its latest announcement. 

The council is planning to improve sea defenses at three sites – Forton, Seafield and Alverstoke. The projects are being run on behalf of the council by the Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership.

The ESCP has now won new government funding to progress the three schemes. This follows an initial £320,000 grant, approved in 2016 by the Environment Agency, which was used to prepare a business case and outline design for the schemes.

The new funding includes:

• £546,700 to allow the Alverstoke scheme to move to the detailed design stage and then start construction;
• £227,000 to progress the Seafield scheme to the enhanced outline design stage.

The outline business case for the Forton scheme is in the process of being submitted in order to secure the funding to design and build the scheme.

Commenting the latest announcement, Cllr Mark Hook, leader of the council, said: “The news that we have secured more funding is great news, as it means we can keep up the momentum for these very important schemes and move them closer to becoming a reality.”

Current estimates are that construction of the schemes could cost £3.5m to £4m and could start in 2020, subject to further funding approval from the Environment Agency.