Posted on October 27, 2025
Work is starting soon on a multi-million pound sea defence project that will help protect the city from climate change.
The Brighton Marina to River Adur project aims to protect the coastline by replacing groynes on the seafront and adding more shingle, making the beach larger.
The project will improve and reinforce the beach from Kings Esplanade in Hove to Shoreham.
The “main construction” is due to begin in January, with the compound for contractors being set up in December.
Hove seafront’s existing groynes will be demolished from January until the end of July, with new groynes being constructed from the beginning of next year until August.
Construction at Southwick beach is due to take place from January until the end of November next year.
Brighton and Hove City Council held a public engagement event at Hove Town Hall on Thursday, October 23.
Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said the project was to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as more volatile weather.
He said that bays of the beach will be closed “one at a time” while the work is ongoing and there will be minimal disruption on the promenade.
Cllr Muten said: “We have got a climate change situation.
“There is a risk of rising sea levels and more intense storms.
“There are more and more stones being thrown onto the promenade. Some of them are damaging cars and vehicles.
“We know that if we do nothing we will continue to have stones on the promenade.
“There is a concern for the future with rising sea levels. We don’t have a big sea wall.
“We have got a promenade and a groyne field with a pebble beach. That’s our protection.
“What defines our city is our beach. It’s what people come here for. We don’t want to build a big sea wall.
“We want to keep the essence of our groyne and pebble beach and protect our city. This project is building that resilience, it’s making our beach bigger.
“It’s a very exciting project.”
He added that the council was “mindful” of potential disruption to nearby residents and there will be a resident engagement officer available for people to voice concerns.
“We recognise the beach is very important to people,” he said.
“We’re going to do one bit at a time.
“In terms of the introduction of the material we are mindful of the summer season. The majority of the bays will be open.
“We’re looking at the impacts of this on the natural system as well.
“All the material is recycled. We have done the assessments.”
Hove resident Ken Johnson said he was “relieved” the work was being done.
He said: “It’s interesting to see what’s going to be taking place.
“I was relieved when I read that this would be happening.
“As a resident spending so much time on the beach and in the sea, it was clear to me that this type of restorative work was not taking place as often as they would like it to.
“It is noticeable how much the beach has been eroded.”
However, Mr Johnson was concerned about how the project will be funded.
In April, the cabinet agreed to increase funding for the project from £6.5 million to £11 million.
The beach will be extended by 25 metres out to sea.
The new groynes will be supported by filling the bays between each one with shingle which will be taken from a licensed dredging site in the English Channel.
Brighton and Hove City Council is working in partnership with Adur and Worthing Councils, Shoreham Port and the Environment Agency on this project.
The timeline for the project (Image: The Argus)
There were information boards for residents at the event (Image: The Argus)i>
The event at Hove Town Hall (Image: The Argus)
