U1: Medmerry Realignment

• Medmerry is in West Sussex, and borders the English Channel in SE England. It is West of Selsey (most at risk place of flooding in UK)
• If previous ridge was breached, 348 properties in Selsey would be at risk of flooding
• Last breach of the previous ridge in 2008 cause £5 million in damages.
• Previous ridge cost £0.2 million per year
• Work of realignment began in 2011 and ended in 2014
• New embankment made, 2km inland using clay from area
• Behind embankment, a channel was built to collect draining water.
• Rock armour was placed on seaward edges to avoid further erosion.
• 110 metre breach made in shingle bank to allow flooding (prevents it elsewhere).
• Now a 1 in 1000 chance of coastal flooding in area. (Soc)
• New 10 km footpath. (Soc)
• New 7km cycle route. (Soc)
• Residents felt land was given up too easily. (Soc)
• New flooded area is expected to become a fishing nursery (Eco)
• Cost £25 million (Eco)
• Farms were abandoned to allow realignment. (Eco)
• 300km of new intertidal habitats. (Env)
• Existing species such as otters were protected. (Env)
• Existing species such as badgers were still disturbed. (Env)