The Bay Coastal Community Group continues to play an important role in shaping the Shanklin & Yaverland Coastal Defence Scheme. Launched in September 2025, the group brings together residents, businesses, councillors and community representatives to engage directly with the project team.

Two successful meetings have taken place so far, most recently in February 2026. These sessions provide a constructive space to discuss progress, ask questions and share local knowledge.

Feedback from the group has been extremely valuable, helping improve communication, shaping engagement activity and building trust as the scheme develops.

A third meeting is planned for Summer 2026, and new members are very welcome. Further information on how to get involved is available on this page.

We recently delivered a series of interactive school workshops across the Isle of Wight, working with around 160 pupils to explore coastal erosion, coastal defences and what the coastline means to them.

Involving children and young people is vitally important, as the decisions made today will shape the coastline they will inherit in the future. Their perspectives help ensure long‑term coastal solutions reflect how future generations will use, value and care for these places.

Pupils shared thoughtful and imaginative ideas, including safe swimming spaces, wildlife protection, play opportunities and social areas. A strong emotional connection to the Island’s beaches was evident throughout the sessions.

These insights are helping to inform future engagement and design thinking. A full summary of the findings is available to read in the Downloads section of this page.

Our Coastal Defence team recently took part in a hands‑on co‑create workshop with Artecology, a not‑for‑profit organisation based on the Isle of Wight that specialises in nature‑inclusive design and eco‑engineering.

Founded in 2013 and working within the Isle of Wight UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Artecology combines ecological science, engineering and creative practice to design infrastructure that supports biodiversity. Their work focuses on embedding ecological enhancement directly into built structures, ensuring infrastructure can function as habitat rather than displacing nature.

During the workshop, the team explored how small, thoughtful design details can make a big difference for marine life. Using clay, bioreceptive sculptures were created with textures and footholds designed to encourage marine growth. These have since been fired and are drying, ready for potential future use.

Once installed, these elements could form part of vertipools and other tide‑friendly features that mimic natural rock formations, providing shelter and feeding spaces for marine species and supporting healthier coastal ecosystems.

We’re delighted to share that the Shanklin & Yaverland Coastal Defence Scheme has officially reached the 50% Detailed Design milestone.

In simple terms, this means the project has reached the halfway point of the detailed design process. By this stage, the overall approach to protecting the coastline is confirmed, and the main engineering solutions are clearly defined. While some details will still be refined, there is now a shared understanding of what will be built, where it will be located, and how it will work.

In January 2026, engineers and key stakeholders from the Environment Agency, JBA Consulting, VolkerStevin and the Isle of Wight Council came together to review progress. This review confirmed the designs meet technical requirements and are realistic to deliver. It also identified areas to refine as the project moves forward.

Reaching 50% design is an important checkpoint in the project timeline. It allows the team to progress confidently towards the 80% and 100% detailed design stages, where all elements will be finalised in preparation for construction planning.

Thank you to everyone who attended our community information event at Browns Golf & PLUTO'S Café on Tuesday 18 February. We had a great turnout and spoke to many members of the community about the initial design for the scheme. At the event we presented artists illustrations showing what the scheme might look like and what might happen during construction. We explained how the scheme will better protect 168 homes and 118 businesses from coastal erosion and flooding.

The posters displayed at the event can be viewed here -

• The need for the scheme
• Assessment of options
• What improvements would you like to see?
• What might happen during the refurbishment?
• What might a coastal defence refurbishment look like?

You can also find our Engagement Summary Report here which includes our responses to the questions raised during the session.

Shanklin & Yaverland Coastal Defence Update – Exciting Progress for Our Community!

Great news! Over £4 million in government funding has been secured to develop a Full Business Case (FBC) for the Shanklin and Yaverland Coastal Defence Schemes. This is a vital step forwards, helping us to better protect our coastline, homes, businesses and infrastructure.

Why This Matters

Coastal erosion and flooding have long been concerns for our community. This scheme is designed to safeguard over 500 properties and businesses, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future for Sandown Bay. By strengthening sea walls, reinforcing foundations, and maintaining beach stability, we’re helping to protect the coastline for future generations while preserving the stunning views and natural beauty we all cherish.

Key Updates

✅ Funding Boost – Over £4 million secured for the next stage, with further funding strategies being explored.
✅ Stronger Protections – Plans to reinforce the sea wall and enhance beach stability through carefully designed defences.
✅ Carbon Conscious Approach – The project will use low-carbon materials and sustainable maintenance methods.
✅ Public Consultation – Your input is essential! Designs will incorporate community feedback, and we’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

What’s Next?

Finalising Designs – Detailed designs, including sea wall finishes and pedestrian railings, will be shaped in 2025.
Construction Timeline – If all goes to plan, work is expected to begin in Spring 2027, with completion by 2030.
Preserving Our Bay – The scheme will maintain the uninterrupted coastal views we all love, while also ensuring long-term protection.

This is an exciting time for our coastal community, and we want everyone to feel part of this journey. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or visitor, your support and input are invaluable in shaping the future of Sandown Bay.

If you have any questions, or want to learn more, come along to our events or email IOW_FDschemes@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Thank you for being part of this vital project – together, we’re making our coastline stronger, safer, and better for generations to come!

Our team visited Sandown Wastewater Treatment Works last week. The site is at risk of flooding from the sea if the Yaverland coastal defences were to fail. The site could be inundated by around 50cm of flood water. Southern Water showed us the site to help us understand what equipment is at risk of flooding and the associated impacts to their customers.

Understanding the potential impacts of flooding at the site will help us to attract additional funding for the refurbishment work and build a stronger case for investing in the coastal defences. The Yaverland Coastal Defence scheme will better protect this critical infrastructure from the risk of flooding from the sea for 50 years.

Out of the 5 short list of options, Option 3 (Keep the existing defence level) has been chosen by Isle of Wight Council as the preferred way forward following a recommendation made by the Environment Agency.

Option 1: Do Nothing

Option 2: Do Minimum

Option 3: Keep the existing defence level

Option 4: Raise the level of the defence in stages into the future

Option 5: Raise the defence level now

Option 3 will involve construction works to refurbish the sea wall and timber and concrete groynes. The methodology for refurbishment will be confirmed during the next stage as the team progress with drawing up an initial design.

The current thinking is that works to the walls will be constructed using shutters and in-situ pour of concrete 200mm against the face of the existing sea wall. This option will provide a quality finish. Temporary works such as sheet piling will be required along the section of wall and groyne being worked on to provide a safe and dry working corridor.

The defence level will be kept at the existing level. No raising of the existing defence height will be made over the next 50 years. As part of the refurbishment project, we will include works which strengthen the foundations of the seawall with the foresight that a decision to raise the height of the seawall may be a viable option in 50 years’ time.

Further details on how and why the preferred option was selected can be found in our FAQs

Option 3 provides over £160 million worth of benefits to people, property and the environment. The additional benefits associated with Option 4 and Option 5 are not as great. The figure below shows the cost to construct Option 3 is significantly less compared with Option 4 and Option 5. Increasing the height of the sea wall almost doubles the cost of the scheme. The public consultation told us that there is interest locally in raising the height of the existing defences however the funding shortfall of £6.4million and over £13million for Option 4 and Option 5 respectively makes these unviable options for Isle of Wight Council to take forward.

Information on Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management schemes are funded can be found here: https://thefloodhub.co.uk/frms-funding-and-delivery/

Addressing the shortfall in funding for the preferred option -

As a competent authority under Habitat Regulations the Environment Agency must have regard for the protection of the designated freshwater habitat of Brading Marshes, and can therefore apply for funding set aside to protect designated habitat. This funding will only cover the costs to close a funding gap for the lowest cost option for achieving habitat protection. This is Option 3 which is the most economically viable way of protecting Brading Marshes.

The Environment Agency submitted a business case to Southern Water seeking a contribution towards the scheme as the water treatment works in Sandown will benefit from better protection from flooding from the sea. This bid has been included in Southern Water’s submission to The Water Services Regulation Authority, or Ofwat. This bid will not be determined until December 2024.

A funding strategy will be produced during the Full Business Case stage in 2025. Project costs are expected to change following more detailed costings from our contractor.