Coastal businesses to benefit from seawall improvements

A £400,000 capital investment programme to repair St Annes seawall has been approved by Fylde Council.

The work will be funded by the Environment Agency's Regional Area Programme Delivery Mandate to fund detailed design and technical development work on the seawall's 660m headland stretch, from the mini golf site to the View Café.

Announcing the decision, Fylde Council said the preferred approach will see a durable concrete overlay applied to the existing seawall and promenade, paired with a smart new sea outfall and storage system to manage wave overtopping, offering stronger flood and erosion protection for 510 local properties and businesses against even a one-in-200-year storm event.

Specialist contractor VolkerStevin Boskalis Westminster (VBA) has been handed the £350,000 contract to carry out the design and early contractor involvement work through the Environment Agency's Beach Management Framework.

Councillor Thomas Threlfall, lead member for environment, said: "Our seafront is the heart of the town and this funding means we can finally move forward with a practical, deliverable plan that will protect 510 properties and businesses from flooding and extreme weather for generations to come."

Design work will get under way in the coming months, with a further report to follow before any future construction phase begins.