Major Design Milestone Reached – 50% Complete

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.