Chichester District Council has launched early market engagement with contractors on a major coastal protection scheme for Selsey, with construction costs expected to exceed £90m.
The local authority is developing a long-term solution to protect the West Sussex peninsula from increasing coastal erosion and tidal flood risk.
Its 1950s-era sea wall and associated defences are nearing the end of their design life, with rising maintenance costs and climate-related challenges prompting a full-scale overhaul.
In an early engagement notice, the council said it aims to ‘hold the line’ along the coastline, in line with existing Shoreline Management Plans, using a mix of replacement structures and upgrades to existing sea walls and timber groynes.
The outline design phase, which began in November 2024 following a successful Flood Defence Grant in Aid bid, is expected to result in an Outline Business Case (OBC) by 2027.
The council was awarded more than £2.9m was last year awarded by the Environment Agency to support early design work.
The funding followed feasibility work by the council’s coastal engineering service, Coastal Partners, which showed that over 700 properties could be at risk of flooding in a 1-in-200-year storm event.
The construction phase will require Full Business Case approval, with a provisional contract period running from September 2030 to 2040.
The total estimated project cost, including VAT, is £108m.
Given the scale and complexity of the scheme, the council is inviting technically experienced civil and coastal engineering contractors to provide feedback on preferred design options, buildability, sequencing and cost data for bespoke and temporary works.
Engagement activities will include virtual meetings, in-person workshops and site visits. Interested parties must register by 2 May 2025 via Hampshire County Council’s procurement service.
The scheme is being procured under the 2023 Procurement Act and will follow HM Treasury’s project lifecycle and funding gateways. Architect and procurement route details have not yet been confirmed.
Source: Gov.uk Find a Tender