Find out more about the works we complete on an annual basis along the Hunstanton coastline
March 2026 - Emergency repair works
Between the evening of Wednesday 4 February and morning of Thursday 5 February 2026, high tides and strong winds caused around 20cm to 30cm of beach material to be eroded from the base of the Hunstanton seawall. This resulted in tidal action forming a void under the promenade deck and resulted in partial collapse of an asphalt area of promenade.
Further investigations identified that a large void had developed beneath the promenade. You can view some images of the void in our Hunstanton Void Inspection document.
Emergency works fill the void commenced on Monday 2 March 2026 by Southbay Civil Engineering.
Between Monday 2 March and Tuesday 17 March 2026, preparation works were completed to prepare the promenade and seawall for concrete pours to fill the void. This included: -
- Coring access holes in the promenade deck to confirm the extent of the void and to facilitate access for later concrete pours to fill the void.
- Filling any gaps in the joints of the blockwork and concrete seawall pads to prevent concrete mix from seeping out.
- Installation of steel trench piles at the base of the seawall directly in-front of the void to prevent concrete from seeping out beneath the wall onto the beach and to prevent further undermining.
Between Wednesday 11 March and Monday 16 March 2026, pouring of concrete to fill the void took place. A total of 136.5 cubic metres of concrete was poured into the void. The final approximate size of the void was 26.5 metres in length, 3.5 metres deep and 4 metres wide.
Following completion of emergency repair works, the promenade was re-opened to foot traffic on Friday 19th March 2026.
The promenade between the Oasis and Rock Shop Slipway currently remains closed to vehicle traffic and kiosks. It will take 28 days for the large volume of concrete used to fill the void to fully cure and reach its maximum designed strength. Litter bins have been placed on the promenade to act as a barrier to prevent vehicle access along this section of promenade during this period.
A structural engineer has been instructed to complete a review of the weight limit of the promenade between the Oasis and Rock Shop Slipway. This review will consider the structural strength of concrete used to fill the void, alongside outcomes of a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey of this section of promenade completed in early February 2026. GPR surveys are used to indicate potential anomalies beneath the ground surface, such as voids.
The outcomes of this assessment will determine whether any amendments to the weight limit on the promenade between the Oasis and Rock Shop Slipway are required going forwards. We will keep you updated on the outcomes of this assessment once received.
Any kiosks which are normally located on the promenade between the Oasis and Rock Shop Slipway have been offered alternative locations to trade while the concrete curing and weight limit assessment takes place.
Further information regarding the completion of emergency repair work and next steps can be viewed using the button below:
Hunstanton Coastal Defence FAQs
Updates previously published on these works can be viewed below:
- Hunstanton emergency repairs update - 11 March 2026
- Hunstanton emergency repairs update - 13 March 2026
2025 to 2026 financial year
So far, this financial year we have already completed and commissioned a range of routine repair works to the Hunstanton sea defences. This includes:
- Beach access step handrail replacement
- Routine maintenance and repairs completed to the concrete sea defences
- Health and safety works to the timber groynes
- Extension of metal beach access steps and handrail
- Routine maintenance of floodgates
Total cost of routine and repair works for the 2025-26 financial year, as of March 2026 is £186,116.53. You can view the full breakdown of how this was spent, alongside photograph examples of works undertaken below:
2024 to 2025 financial year
During the 2024-25 financial year we undertook a range of routine repair works to the Hunstanton sea defences. This included:
- Routine concrete repairs to the promenade, seawall and slipways.
- Replacement of joint sealant on the wave-return wall.
- Extensions of a handrailing on a slipway.
- Replacement of a handrailing on the promenade.
- Extension of beach access steps.
- Health and safety works to timber groynes and concrete groynes.
- Repairs to navigation markers.
- Removal of redundant cliff top fence posts.
The total cost of routine repair works for the 2024-25 financial year was £183,076.68.
You can view the full breakdown of how this was spent, alongside photograph examples of works undertaken below:
2023 to 2024 financial year
During the 2023-24 financial year we undertook a range of routine repair works to the Hunstanton sea defences. This included:
- Concrete repairs to slipways, the promenade and seawall
- Repairs to navigation markers
- Jetting and routine repairs to Borough Council owned outfalls
- Health and safety works.
The total cost of routine repair works for the 2023-24 financial year was £183,076.68.
You can view the full breakdown of how this was spent, alongside photograph examples of works undertaken below:
2022 to 2023 financial year
During the 2022-23 financial year we undertook a range of routine repair work to the Hunstanton sea defences. This included:
- Concrete repairs to slipways, the promenade and seawall
- Mortar repairs to the seawall
- Routine maintenance of all floodgates
- Repairs to navigation markers
- Jetting of Borough Council owned outfalls
- Health and safety works
The total cost of routine repair works for the 2022-23 financial year was £66,863.80.
You can view the full breakdown of how this was spent, alongside photograph examples of works undertaken below:
Further information
If you need to speak to us about the work undertaken to the Hunstanton coastal defences, you can contact us at any time by email at floodandwatermanagement@west-norfolk.gov.uk.