The Project So Far

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.

This is a complex and long-term project, aiming to protect Ventnor’s community, infrastructure, and environment from the impacts of coastal erosion and land instability.

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

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.

Key Developments to Date:

• 2022–2024: Emergency works at Eastern Esplanade
  We supported the Isle of Wight Council in accessing funding, obtaining environmental permits, and working with framework suppliers to deliver temporary repairs following the failure of coastal assets in November 2022.

• 2023–2024: Site investigations
  A series of investigations were carried out at Western Cliffs and the Eastern Esplanade promenade to assess the condition of the existing coastal defences, local aquifer levels, and geological characteristics. This involved drilling, coring, and opening sections of the defences for inspection.

• 2023–2024: Modelling
  Topographical surveys and LiDAR data have been used to model both current and future coastal risks. This includes assessing the impact of sea level rise and wave overtopping on the performance of the existing defences, particularly if they are not raised or strengthened.

• 2024: Options appraisal
  Drawing on the evidence collected, we undertook an options appraisal to identify the most effective way to manage coastal erosion risk. Due to the complexity of the site, including intertidal working conditions, the presence of a landslide complex, and future climate pressures, the preferred option is to replace conventional concrete seawalls with rock armour.
  Rock armour involves the strategic placement of durable rock (typically granite) to absorb wave energy. It offers numerous advantages: a long design life (100+ years), low maintenance, flexible installation, and additional mass at the toe of the landslide complex. For these reasons, rock armour is already in use locally at Wheelers Bay and Western Cliffs.

• 2025: Community engagement
  In April 2025, we held a three-day public exhibition at Ventnor Exchange, inviting the community to meet the project team and learn more about the scheme. The event featured artist impressions of how the new defences could look, and launched a month-long public survey to gather feedback on the design, impact, and long-term benefits of the scheme.
  The exhibition materials can be viewed in our documents section, and the full engagement feedback report will be available soon.