The Borough Council is starting a new capital works project for the Hunstanton Coastal Defences
Background
There are several policies and plans which link to how the Council undertakes its coastal management functions.
Policy, Strategy and Plan Context
In 2019, the Council adopted the Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan, and we have since been implementing this plan which splits the Hunstanton coast into two areas:
- Unit A - Hunstanton Cliffs
- Unit B - Hunstanton Town Coastal Defences
Hunstanton Cliffs have currently have a no active intervention management policy, following national Shoreline Management Plan policy and regular monitoring of erosion is undertaken (find out more on our Hunstanton cliffs monitoring page. For Hunstanton Town (Unit B), there is a ‘hold the line’ of existing defences management policy, and over recent years this has been implemented by an annual patch and mend repair approach to defects identified as part of annual asset inspection surveys, alongside health and safety repairs (find out more on our current coastal works page).
A series of coastal trend reports were completed by the Borough Council and Environment Agency between 2020-2022, which confirmed a change in coastal processes has occurred at Hunstanton, resulting in ongoing erosion (loss) of beach material. Following this, an asset condition survey was completed in May 2023, and this recommended a series of ‘geotechnical investigations’ should be undertaken.
Previous works
Geotechnical investigations inspect the condition of parts of a structure which are located below the ground surface and therefore cannot be visually inspected. Outcomes are then used to assess the current structural condition of the Hunstanton coastal defences, and inform future works required to maintain the standard of protection the defences provide.
Geotechnical investigations of the Hunstanton coastal defences commenced in Autumn 2024 and included excavation of 25 trial pits at the base of the seawall, testing concrete strength via Falling Weight Deflectometer surveys and Ground Penetrating Radar to inspect the promenades internal condition.
The Hunstanton coastal defences are split into 7 sub-sections, based on their varying age and construction method. The geotechnical investigations looked at varying aspects of each of these sub-sections.
Outcomes of Geotechnical Investigations
The key findings and recommendations of the geotechnical investigations were:
- The promenade deck requires replacement and any voids identified filling
- A 10-tonne weight limit and 5 mph speed limit will be implemented on the promenade to mitigate against further deterioration of the promenade, until capital replacement works are undertaken
- Some sections of seawall (Sections E, F and G) require a reface and toe protection measures (sheet piles) installed
- Routine asset condition surveys will continue, and any essential repairs will be carried out.
- Beach level monitoring will continue to be completed to measure how much beach material remain at the base of the sea wall.
- A digital laser survey of the promenade will be completed every 6 months to check for any signs of subsidence.
- A window sampling survey will be carried out to investigate the condition under the promenade deck
You can view a series of frequently asked questions below.
Next Steps
The Borough Council will now move ahead with a capital works programme to complete the works recommended by the geotechnical investigations.
While the outcomes of the investigations have identified that larger capital works are now required, we emphasise that the defences are not structurally unsafe and they remain open to the public while project feasibility, design and delivery planning is completed.
We will also continue to undertake regular visual asset condition inspections of the defences to inform any routine works required, alongside the additional monitoring recommended.
To begin this capital works project, we will engage a specialist contractor to commence the feasibility, design and project planning phases required to commence the build aspects of capital works including:
- Feasibility assessment to confirm best options for capital works
- Project design by a specialist coastal / civil engineer
- Project delivery planning, applying for approvals and licences required, establishing a timeline project build
The Borough Council will also develop a funding application for central government defence Grant in Aid (GiA) ready to submit when new funding rules launch in April 2026.
The current expected timeline is that the project feasibility, design and delivery planning phases will take around 12-18 months to complete and be followed by a build programme over 2 or 3 years.
April 2026 Update:
Following outcomes of the geotechnical investigations and their recommendations in Summer 2025, the capital works project to rebuild aspects of the coastal defences has been underway.
Works completed between September 2025 and March 2026 include: -
- Balfour Beatty completed a high-level feasibility assessment for the project
- Entered contract with Balfour Beatty via SCAPE Framework and commenced undertaking initial works
- Submitted an application for RFCC Local Levy funding to support preliminary works
- Commenced economic assessments to support funding outline business case
- Procured and undertaken structural stability monitoring (Dec-25 and Mar-26)
- Undertaken a repeated Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey of the promenade between the Sailing Club Slipway and Oasis
- Undertaken procurement of window (core) sampling investigations
Over the next 6-months we will continue developing the capital works project.
Key activities planned include: -
- Undertaking window (core) sampling of the promenade
- Continue 3-monthly structural stability monitoring
- Undertake repeated GPR survey of all 1.5km of the promenade
- Produce a design team
- Complete economic assessments to support developing an outline business case for funding bids
- Confirm new funding rule changes from April 2026
- Begin design optioneering, outline design and outline business case development
- Stakeholder engagement
Window (Core) Sampling:
On Monday 20th April 2026, a series of window (core) sample investigations will commence along the Hunstanton Coastal Defences.
These investigations will include: -
- 90 window (core) samples through all 1.5km of the promenade
- 5 pencil (core) samples through the wave-return wall
- Installation of 5 groundwater monitoring locations
- 5 geological boreholes through the beach
Completing these site investigations was a direct recommendation of the geotechnical investigations and outcomes will directly inform the design phase of the capital works project.
Works will be completed by Central Alliance on behalf of the Borough Council and are anticipated to take 4 weeks to complete, with works taking place Monday to Friday. No works will take place on Bank Holiday Monday in early May.
A series of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the works have been produced. You can view these here.
Further Information
You can view a non-technical summary of the geotechnical investigations report below.
View the non-technical summary document
We will regularly update this webpage as the project develops.
If you need to speak to us about this project, you can contact us at any time by email at: floodandwatermanagement@west-norfolk.gov.uk.