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The Sidmouth and East Beach coastal defence scheme has been fully approved by the Environment Agency, with £16million of funding from the UK Government, East Devon District Council said.
The £20million project will protect 113 residential and 70 commercial properties from the risks of sea flooding and cliff erosion. Also, East Devon District Council will provide £2.25million of already approved funds, with additional contributions from Devon County Council and other local bodies.
Design consultants are soon to be employed to revisit the outline design, said the council.
Also, design and modelling will occur throughout 2024 into 2025 with the public being invited to consultation to help shape the final design prior to the planning process.
Construction will follow on once planning is granted.
Planned improvements currently include one or more new offshore breakwaters, a new rock groyne at East Beach, and the splash wall at the east of the Esplanade will be raised.
The main and East beaches will also be ‘recharged’, with levels to be increased using similar material dredged from offshore.
All planned changes will be done in a sympathetic manner, keeping Sidmouth’s historic architectural and natural beauty in mind, said the council.