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Fareham 28
What is happening?
The Hook Lake Coastal Management Study is the first stage in the delivery of a habitat creation scheme at Hook Lake. As this project looks to fulfil a legal requirement to create new habitat, the study is entirely funded by Government through Defra Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Grant in Aid.
Working closely with Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, who own and manage the site, the two-year study will look to maximise the potential benefits for both local people and wildlife to ensure that Hook Lake remains a special place. We will explore the potential for creating new habitats, look at wider recreation opportunities and develop preliminary designs for a scheme.
In March 2021, the project team enlisted the professional services of engineering consultancy Binnies to help deliver the more technical elements of the study and develop the outline designs for a scheme. Over the next year, the project team will develop and appraise different approaches to creating habitat and identify a cost-effective leading way forward that maximises both habitat creation delivery and recreation opportunities.
Following on from this initial study stage the project team will submit a business case to the Government to request funding to progress the project to the next stages of finalising designs, obtaining licences and consents and then building a scheme at Hook Lake.
In the Borough of Fareham two locations have been identified to develop further studies and help adapt to the growing presence of climate change. On behalf of Fareham Borough Council, Coastal Partners has successfully secured funding to develop options for a long term sustainable coastal management solution along the Fareham Quay and Alton Grove to Cador Drive coastline. The study will help to address future climate change impacts including increased coastal flood risk and erosion.
Both these areas of coastline currently have sea defences in poor condition and are at risk of flooding if a coastal management solution is not identified. Importantly, they also both feature historic landfill sites along the coastal frontages. These are in danger of eroding which could lead to the longstanding landfill material making its way into the environmentally designated harbour. To address these issues, we are compiling an evidence-based plan to protect the area and the community in the future.
Over the next 18 months the project team will appraise, develop and cost options for coastal management, look at how to fund a scheme and prepare an outline design for the preferred scheme option at each location. The project team will actively look at opportunities to integrate wider Fareham Borough Council initiatives to improve the public realm, amenity, recreation and access; and enhance community health and wellbeing. Lower Quay Fareham
Improving Community Resilience
Enhancing the Natural Environment
Industry Recognition
It has been a year where The North Portsea Island Coastal Defence scheme (pages 24 -25) has been acknowledged by leading industry figures for its environmental innovations. The project entered the prestigious ‘Flood and Coast Excellence Awards’ and proudly emerged as victors of the ‘Coastal Management’ Award.
The scheme stood out thanks to the range of ecological interventions that have been incorporated into the project. It was seen as leading the way in ‘greening’ hard-engineered infrastructure that makes up our urban environment, a term often referred to as ‘greening the grey’.
A key component of the success was an innovative Ecoformliner specifically designed for intertidal ecosystems. The Ecoformliner is a textured sea wall that retains water enabling marine animals and plants to take hold. The contoured design encourages vegetation growth, which helps to absorb wave energy and stops the wall from drying out, leading to greater resilience and longevity. The trailblazing wall not only provides an effective coastal defence, but also vast environmental benefits. A co-ordinated partnership effort was delivered, enabling the Ecoformliner to be designed, developed and implemented. This demonstrated how collaborative government / university / industry partnerships can be harnessed to deliver large-scale eco-engineering.
Thanks go out to the following organisations for bringing this project to life; Glasgow and Bournemouth Universities, Environment Agency, Portsmouth City Council, Natural England, Royal Haskoning DHV, Concrete Scotland, Mackley, Reckli and the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
