The Environment Agency has reached an important milestone in a 15 year project to provide 7km of new sea defences inland from the coast to protect local communities together with the creation of a large nature reserve at Medmerry in West Sussex.

The £28m scheme involves the largest realignment of the open coast ever in the UK.

Today one of the highest tides of the year is expected along the south coast, making the ideal conditions to show how the new defences and nature reserve will work together to protect local communities from flooding.

The new defences at Medmerry significantly reduce the flood risk to nearly 350 homes, local infrastructure and the main road into Selsey. The groundbreaking project has also provided the opportunity to create more than 180 hectares of important new wildlife habitat which compensates for the loss of similar conservation areas in and around the Solent. Once the project is fully complete, the RSPB will manage the wildlife habitats and access with the Environment Agency continuing to manage the flood defences.

David Rooke, Environment Agency Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management, said:

“With one in six people at risk of flooding in England, schemes such as Medmerry have a key role to play in protecting people and property. They also have an important role in the local economy by encouraging more visitors to the area. Creating large-scale habitat is vital to ensuring the survival of the country’s endangered species, improving water quality and reducing carbon.”