Harbours Advisory Committee

20 September 2023

Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Engineering Update

For Review and Consultation

Portfolio Holder: Cllr R Bryan, Highways, Travel and Environment

Local Councillor(s):	All

Executive Director:	J Sellgren, Executive Director of Place

Report Author:	Matthew Penny

Job Title:	Service Manager Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management

Tel:	01305 252290

Email:	matthew.penny@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Report Status: Public

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this report is to provide an update and consult with Harbours Committee on the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) engineering activities being undertaken within all three Dorset Council Harbours.

Recommendation:

Review report and comment upon progress of current activities.

Reason for Recommendation:

Update and consult with Harbours Advisory Committee.

Report

Bridport Harbour (West Bay)

Dredging

Dredging operations have been successfully completed for 2023. Planning has already commenced for next year’s operations in conjunction with the Harbour Master.

Inspections

This year’s annual round of inspections by Coastal Risk Management has been completed and minor defects identified for repair.

Repairs

Repair works have been identified within the inner harbour and the Coastal Risk Management team is currently programming the necessary repairs. Harbour Wall ‘A’ is showing signs of settlement which is actively being monitored by engineers. The repair of Harbour Wall ‘A’ is included within the council capital programme.

Harbour Wall B Stabilisation & Repair

The preferred option involves cleaning the wall and removing the loose material at the base, installing a new toe structure, stabilising the ground behind the wall, installing a waterproof layer and resurfacing.

Discussions with the conservation team have been organised due to its locality within the conservation area.

The walkway behind the wall is now partially open once again. The Coastal Risk Manager will submit a business case towards a capital bid that will fund the construction works.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Design Development	Spring-Summer 2023
Permits and Licences determination	Spring-Autumn 2023
Proposed Construction start	Autumn/Winter 2023

1.2	Lyme Regis Harbour

Dredging

Dredging operations have been successfully completed for 2023. Planning has already commenced for next year’s operations in conjunction with the Harbour Master.

Inspections

This year’s annual round of inspections by Coastal Risk Management has been completed and defects identified for repair.

Repairs

We are continuing to monitor The Cobb structure and repair the surface, as necessary. The High-Wall walkway and other areas recently repaired have been re-opened to the public and is now available as usual.

Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Scheme Phase 5

Engagement is ongoing with the public, stakeholders and commercial users, as well as final design progress and licensing applications. Discussions with statutory consultees such as Historic England, Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation are ongoing.

Construction is scheduled to commence late summer 2025 due to additional investigation, design changes and licence application timelines.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Design Development	Winter 2022 – Autumn 2023
Permits and Licences determination	Spring 2023 – Autumn 2024
Proposed Construction start	Summer 2025

1.3	Weymouth Harbour

Dredging

Nothing to note.

Inspections

This year’s annual round of inspections by Coastal Risk Management has been completed and defects identified for repair.

Repairs

Defects have been identified and the Coastal Risk Management team is currently programming the necessary repairs.

Weymouth Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme Phase 1

The Outline Business Case (OBC) is programmed for completion in late 2024. Bid for Local Levy funding to develop the Surface Water component of the scheme was approved by the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (WRFCC). Modelling, optioneering and preliminary design are underway. Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) pricing and programming of Coastal options being finalised. The second round of stakeholder engagements was concluded, with more engagement events planned in future.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Permits and Licences determination	Winter 2024 – Autumn 2025
Outline Business Case	Summer 2022 – Autumn 2024
Initial design period	Summer 2025 – Summer 2026
Proposed Construction start	Winter 2026

Harbour Walls F&G (Peninsula)

Currently the different engineering options are under review to determine the optimum solution. Important considerations that are influencing the decision-making process are the further development of the area behind the wall. This is holding up progress on the wall, but for now key milestone dates have not changed.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Permits and Licences determination	Summer 2023 - Summer 2024
Design period	Summer 2023
Proposed Construction start	Winter 2024

Harbour Wall 4 (North Quay)

The detail designs have been completed and we are in the process of procuring Early Contractor Engagement. It is expected to have the ECI contractor appointed by end August.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Permits and Licences determination	Summer 2023 – Winter 2023
Design period	Summer 2023
Proposed Construction start	Winter 2023

Pleasure Pier

A contractor has been appointed. Work is scheduled to commence early August and expected to be completed by end August.

Weymouth Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Level 2

This provides the detailed flood risk evidence for Weymouth in support of the development of the Dorset Local Plan and the base data for the FCERM scheme OBC. The work has involved modelling all sources of flooding within Weymouth and around the harbour.

The latest draft report has been issued and reviewed. We have met the consultant with our partners and have formally clarified our understanding with the EA.

Financial Implications

2.1	There are no financial implications arising from this report.

Natural Environment, Climate & Ecology Implications

3.1	The Climate Change Decision Wheel was not available at the time writing this report. The Decision Wheel will be completed for future committee papers.

3.2	The regular maintenance and repair to engineering assets is beneficial to their remaining life expectancy and therefore has a lower impact upon the climate than replacement schemes.

Where future replacement schemes are required, the climate impact will be described in more detail within the cabinet paper for the respective scheme.

Well-being and Health Implications

4.1	Repair and renewal of harbour infrastructure aids commercial and recreational activity that is both marine and land-based.

Other Implications

5.1	The regular maintenance and repair to engineering assets is beneficial to their remaining life expectancy and therefore is a sustainable approach to the management of engineering assets.

Where future replacement schemes are required, the impact upon sustainability will be described in more detail within the committee paper or the respective scheme.

Risk Assessment

HAVING CONSIDERED: the risks associated with this decision; the level of risk has been identified as:

Current Risk: Low

Residual Risk: Low

Equalities Impact Assessment

7.1	An EQiA is completed for all relevant engineering work that may impact upon people. Therefore, an EQiA was not completed for this committee paper. This approach was agreed with a council equalities officer.

Appendices

8.1	Weymouth Harbour Wall Location Map

8.2	Bridport Harbour Walls A&B Location Map

Background Papers

None.