General Information

The Council has a coastline of 60km and the Coast Protection Section maintains the sea defence structures along 18.5km of this frontage. These defences protect the towns of Harwich, Dovercourt, and Walton on the Naze, Frinton on Sea, Holland on Sea, Clacton and Brightlingsea.

Works undertaken range from day to day maintenance of promenades and seawalls to the design and implementation of major capital schemes costing many millions of pounds. Each year several sections of the sea defences are renewed as part of a rolling programme of special maintenance schemes funded from the Council's Revenue Budgets.

Larger schemes are produced to comply with Defra (the Department of Environment, Fisheries and Food) guidelines and their High Level Targets for coast protection.

All works are designed in house using modern surveying techniques and the latest computer aided design technology.

Other work carried out includes the maintenance of the cliff paths and slopes on behalf of Leisure Services.

Clacton Coastal Strategy

In 2004 detailed proposals to replace the existing sea defences at Holland-on-Sea / Clacton-on-Sea were submitted to Defra. Although these were given approval in principle the schemes have not received funding approval.

In response to government comments that the proposals could not be afforded, Tendring District Council are now working with the Environment Agency to develop revised strategy proposals. This work will be completed in 2012. In the mean time works are ongoing to carry out short-term repair as required.

Current and Completed Coast Protection works around the district

You can find out more about our ongoing projects on our current coast protection works page.

You can also view information on our completed works on our Archive page.

The Essex and South Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan (SMP)

The Essex and South Suffolk draft Shoreline Management Plan covers approximately 440km of coast from Landguard Point in Felixstowe to Two Tree Island in the Thames Estuary, including Southend. It will determine the best ways to look after this part of the coast in a sustainable way for the next 100 years.

The public consultation took place from March to June 2010. There was an extremely good response, with the Environment Agency receiving over 180 formal responses. Officers and local councillors considered which comments would lead to changes in the draft SMP document and in particular where comments would lead to a change in flood risk management policy for a frontage.

The draft plan has been approved by the partner local authorities in Essex and South Suffolk. The Environment Agency are currently seeking agreement from the Secretary of State that the plan is compliant with UK and Euorpean Law. Final sign-off will be by their Regional Director, after which they will begin to circulate and implement the plan.

The final draft plan will be availabe to download soon from this site.

For more information go to the Enviornment Agency's website