Pagham flood defences: What's been proposed

The Environment Agency's latest draft strategy says the long-term development of the frontage around the harbour and Pagham Beach estate is difficult to predict.

It depends on a high amount of interaction between various tidal processes.

"Given the level of uncertainty in this rapidly changing system, a flexible response is needed that can manage flood and erosion risk, as well as the internationally designated nature conservation site," it states.

This differs from the hold the line proposal from the initial strategy last year and which was the preferred choice of residents who commented about the options.

The agency says the 397 properties in Pagham deemed to be at flooding risk this year will rise to 451 in 2028, 724 in 50 years' time and 1,592 in 2108 if nothing is done.

It puts the cost of the coast protection work at 7m over the next 20 years and 35m for the next century. The likelihood of securing government funding is rated as 'uncertain'.

The agency wants to establish a management group to develop and implement the flexible response until 2108. The group's members would include councils, landowners and Natural England.

Specific actions for the plan would include:

maintaining Pagham Harbour as an inter-tidal system for at least 20 years by keeping the harbour entrance open;

defining the management needs for the area's internationally important habitats;

developing a short term solution to the erosion of Pagham beach. It is believed this is caused by the Pagham spit thinning which, in turn, stems from the acculumation of shingle on the Church Norton spit;

looking into recycling material from the adjacent Aldwick Bay beach; and

considering the need for new inner harbour flood defences to protect against rising sea levels.

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