Public consultation for Exmouth tidal defence study

East Devon residents are being invited to learn more about potential opportunities for creating new flood defences in Exmouth at a drop-in consultation, which is being held jointly by East Devon District Council, the Environment Agency (EA) and WSP Consulting Engineers on 20 May at Ocean Blue, Esplanade, Exmouth, from 3- 7pm. 

The consultation is part of the work being undertaken to inform the Exmouth Tidal Defence Study, which the council has, in partnership with the EA, commissioned WSP to carry out. Our consultants will carry out a flood risk management appraisal, which will identify and recommend new flood defences to protect over 1,000 properties in Exmouth together with the estuary frontage and parts of the sea front.  

As part of their work, WSP have also been tasked with preparing a business case to help secure Government funding for the flood defence scheme. Once the appraisal and detailed design has been approved, construction is anticipated to begin in 2017.

Alison Hayward, Regeneration Manager for East Devon District Council, said: “The study will complement the regeneration work that we are undertaking through the Exmouth Vision masterplan and will consider the best options for reducing the risk of flooding for Exmouth - safeguarding homes as well as businesses, which are the heart of the town’s economy.”

Technical staff from the council, the Environment Agency and WSP will be at the consultation to answer any questions and to present their initial ideas on how best to manage the flood risk.