Southsea Ground Investigation Works Underway

Ground investigation works that will aid in the development of the Southsea Coastal Scheme are in full swing now, announced Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership (ESCP) in its latest newsletter.

“From the end of the summer through to mid-autumn 2017, we’ll be carrying out ground investigation works on at various points along the seafront, to aid development of our designs for new defenses that will help to protect Southsea from coastal flooding for the next 100 years,” reported ESCP.

Works taking place include: the drilling of boreholes in the ground; the excavation of small, open trial pits; and the extraction of concrete cores from existing defenses.

The Southsea Coastal Scheme is a Portsmouth City Council project being delivered through the Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership. The outline concept design was undertaken by Royal HaskoningDHV, with Balfour Beatty being appointed as the principle contractor. A specialist team – led by Balfour Beatty, and supported by Arup and Ramboll – has been selected to undertake the detailed design.

According to ESCP, the design development work started in August 2017, and principal design work is scheduled to be completed by July 2018. Consenting/Licensing and Full Business Case submission is programmed for October 2018 with the construction anticipated to begin in April 2019.

Residents from across Portsmouth will have a chance to come and meet the team behind the Southsea Coastal Scheme at a series of public events.

The events will take place on the following dates:

• Eastney Community Centre: 25 October 2017, 1pm-8pm;
• Canoe Lake Tennis Pavilion: 27 October, 1pm-8pm & 28 October 2017, 10am-5pm;
• Royal Naval Club & Royal Albert Yacht Club: 31 October 2017, 1pm-8pm;
• Cosham Baptist Church: 1 November 2017, 1pm-8pm;
• Fratton Community Centre: 3 November 2017, 1pm-8pm.