Coastal Defense Project Underway in Kent

Mackley has recently begun work on an important coastal defense project in Kent, which when complete will provide improved protection from the sea for many years to come.

The Herne Bay Coast Protection Works is being carried out by Mackley on behalf of Canterbury City Council – following a successful bid for Environment Agency funding.

When the £2.8m scheme was first announced in March 2018, Cllr Neil Baker, Chairman of Canterbury City Council’s Community Committee, described it as “great news for Herne Bay”.

The project will see the construction of a total of 24 new timber beach groynes; 13 at the King’s Hall and 11 at Lane End. Having been built in 1963 and 1972 respectively, the current groynes are at the end of their design life and as such are longer providing sufficient protection to the seawall.

Further works include rock armor protection between the King’s Hall pumping station and Herne Bay Sailing Club, repairs to the seawall and promenade, handrail refurbishment and 13,100m³ of beach recycling.

The timber for the groynes, FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) approved Greenheart sourced from Guyana, will be shipped to Scotland where it will be prepared and delivered by road to Whitstable.

Work got underway in September and will be carried out during the winter months when the area is less well used. The project is expected to be complete by spring 2019.