We’re inviting questions about the draft Landscape Vision and Opportunities Plan and have created a dedicated questions tool here to provide a clear and specific way for people to ask questions about the plan.

The Landscape Vision and Opportunities Plan has been shaped by ideas, feedback and local knowledge shared by the Ventnor community. Residents, businesses and stakeholders have told us what they value about the seafront and how they’d like it to evolve, and this plan brings those views together to explore how the area could look and work in the future. It looks beyond coastal defence engineering alone, considering opportunities to improve public spaces, accessibility, heritage, the landscape and the natural environment.

The Landscape Vision and Opportunities Plan and a full summery is available here.

All questions submitted through the Questions tab found here will be collated by the project team. These will be used to produce a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, which we plan to publish by September this year. The FAQ will be available on Engagement HQ to download at any time, making it easy for everyone to access clear responses to common questions about the Landscape Vision and Opportunities Plan.

A Connected Coastal Route

- A continuous, high‑quality walking route from Steephill Cove to Monks Bay, with clearer signage, safer paths and better accessibility.

- Consistent materials, lighting and seating to make the coast feel unified and easy to navigate

A More Accessible Seafront for All

- Improved access points, steps and graded paths.

- More resting places, shaded seating and inclusive viewing spots.

- Clearer wayfinding between the coast, Ventnor Park, Salisbury Gardens and the town centre.

Better Public Spaces

- More places to sit, meet and enjoy the views.

- Upgraded toilets, with scope for showers and changing facilities where appropriate.

- Opportunities for better lighting, pop‑up spaces, small event areas and more vibrant public realm features.

Supporting Nature and Local Habitats

- Enhancements to coastal planting using climate‑resilient, pollinator‑friendly species.

- Protecting and improving habitats for species such as the Glanville fritillary and the Ventnor wall lizard.

- Potential features like vertipools and ecological improvements to rock armour to support marine life.

Celebrating Ventnor’s Culture and Character

- Protecting and enhancing heritage features such as the Cascade, railings, viewpoints and the Solar System Walk.

- Scope for interpretation boards, local stories, artwork and small creative installations rooted in Ventnor’s identity.

- Opportunities to restore or better use underused seafront buildings.

Improving Leisure and Recreation

- Enhancements to the skatepark, including potential seating, planting and shelter.

- Opportunities to improve swimming areas, water access and safer shoreline entry points.

- Ideas for pocket parks and small play features along the Eastern Esplanade.

Strengthening Safety and Resilience

- Exploring ways to refresh ageing sea defences while keeping visual openness and character in mind.

- Potential for improved emergency access, information boards, digital tide displays and appropriately located AEDs.

- Responding to climate change challenges with nature‑led and community‑supported solutions.

Maps

We are sharing a series of maps taken from our Landscape Vision and Opportunities Plan. These images show what we have learned so far about what the community would like to see at Ventnor seafront. The full plan is available to download if you would like to explore it in more detail.

We would really value your thoughts. Please look through the maps and tell us what you think. We would like to know whether we have captured your ideas accurately and if there is anything you feel we may have missed or interpreted incorrectly. Your comments will help us shape the next stage of this work and ensure that the ideas reflect the needs and priorities of the community.

Nothing is final and your feedback is an important part of this process.

We would love to hear your opinion on the Landscape and Vision Plan. Raise a question, comment or concern in the Question section and one of our team will reply to you within 2 working days. email the team at: IOW_FDschemes@environment-agency.gov.uk

Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent community engagement activities for the Ventnor Coastal Defence Scheme. We’re pleased to announce that the full Community Engagement Report is now available to download.

The report brings together feedback from the public exhibition at Ventnor Exchange (April 2025) and the structured community survey. It highlights what matters most to residents, visitors, and businesses — from protecting the coastline and improving public access to preserving the unique character of Ventnor.

📄 You can download the report now under the ‘Documents’ section of this page.

Your views are helping to shape the next phase of the project. Keep following for updates and future opportunities to get involved.

The Ventnor Coastal Protection Scheme is a collaborative initiative led by the Environment Agency in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council. This project aims to enhance coastal defences along a 3.6 km stretch from Monks Bay to Steephill Cove, addressing the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and the region's unique geological conditions.

The Ventnor Coastal Protection Scheme has been underway for some time, with a range of important investigations, trials, and planning activities taking place over the past few years.

To help you understand where we are now and what’s been achieved so far, we’ve summarised the key progress and developments below.

Key Developments to Date:

• 2021–2023: Strategic Planning

  • The Strategic Outline Case was approved in Autumn 2021, allowing the project to move from early concepts into more detailed development.
  • This stage focused on exploring how best to refurbish or replace existing coastal defences and improve slope stability in the areas of Ventnor most at risk from coastal erosion and landslides.

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  November 2022–2024: Emergency Works at Eastern Esplanade

  • Following the failure of coastal assets in November 2022, emergency repair works were carried out at Eastern Esplanade.
  • Support was provided to the Isle of Wight Council to secure funding, obtain environmental permits, and work with contractors to deliver temporary repairs that protect the seafront while longer‑term solutions are developed.

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  2023–2024: Site Investigations and Modelling

  • A programme of detailed site investigations took place at Western Cliffs, Eastern Esplanade, and the promenade.
  • These works included drilling, coring, and opening sections of the existing defences to assess:
    • Their structural condition
    • Geological characteristics
    • Local groundwater and aquifer levels
  • Alongside this, topographical surveys and LiDAR datawere used to model current and future coastal risks, including:
    • Sea level rise
    • Wave overtopping
    • How the existing defences would perform if they were not raised or strengthened

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  March–May 2024: Ground Investigations and Technical Trials

  • In March 2024, Phase 1 of a trial dewatering scheme was installed above the Western Cliffs to explore ways of managing groundwater and reducing ground movement.
  • By late May 2024, key ground investigation works were completed at Wheelers Bay and Eastern Esplanade.
  • Core samples are undergoing laboratory testing, with results expected by October 2024.

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  2024: Options Appraisal

  • An options appraisal was carried out using the evidence gathered from site investigations and modelling.
  • Given the complexity of the site including intertidal working, the presence of a landslide complex, and future climate pressures. The preferred approach is to use rock armour instead of conventional concrete seawalls.
  • Rock armour:
    • Absorbs wave energy effectively
    • Has a design life of over 100 years
    • Requires lower ongoing maintenance
    • Adds stabilising weight at the base of the landslide system
  • This approach is already successfully used at Wheelers Bay and Western Cliffs.

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  Autumn 2024–Spring 2025: Option Identification and Shortlisting

  • A shortlist of technically, environmentally, and economically viable options is being assessed.
  • Local knowledge and feedback are helping to shape the direction of the project.
  • We continue to work closely with residents and businesses to ensure potential disruption is clearly communicated and carefully managed.

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  April 2025: Community Engagement

  • A three‑day public exhibition was held at Ventnor Exchange in April 2025.
  • The community was invited to:
    • Meet the project team
    • View artist impressions showing how the new defences could look
    • Find out more about construction impacts and long‑term benefits
  • A month‑long public survey was launched to gather feedback.
  • Exhibition materials are available in the Documents section, and a full engagement feedback report will be published soon.

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  Mid–Late 2025: Preferred Option and Business Case

  • Drawing on technical evidence and community feedback, a preferred option will be confirmed.
  • An Outline Business Case (OBC)will then be submitted to secure:
    • Government funding
    • Planning and environmental approvals
  • The scheme will be assessed for technical feasibility, environmental impact, and value for money.

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  April 2026: Landscape and Place‑Shaping Proposals

  • A Landscape and Visions Opportunity Plan was developed, refined, and shared with the public.
  • This plan sets out opportunities to enhance the appearance, accessibility, and character of the seafront alongside the new coastal defences, ensuring the scheme delivers wider community and environmental benefits.

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  April 2026: Outline Design Milestone Reached

  • The outline designs for 15 individual seafront frontages reached 50% completion, marking a key project milestone.
  • Each frontage is defined by its existing conditions and its proposed refurbishment solution.
  • Once the outline designs are finalised, they will be shared publicly before being submitted for planning approval in spring 2028.