Amey’s Swansea Bay flood defence plans set for green light

A multimillion-pound scheme to rebuild a century-old sea wall in Swansea is set to be approved by the council.The £14M plans to defend the community of Mumbles from flooding and rising sea levels were recommended for approval at Swansea Council on 15 September but were delayed due to the national period of mourning.Welsh government funding has helped progress the council’s plans that were drawn up by Amey Consulting to rebuild the 1.2km of coastline.Swansea Council cabinet member for environment and infrastructure Andrew Stevens said: “The Welsh government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme (FCERM) has presented us with a significant opportunity to implement a sustainable solution to the current issues of the condition of the Mumbles seawall and to address long-term flood risk affecting the community.”A contractor is due to be appointed by the end of the month. The council has previously predicted rising sea levels could damage up to 120 properties in the near future.Mumbles’ current sea wall is over a century oldConstruction was originally due to start in quarter one of 2022 with an expected finish date by the end of 2023 but the council is now looking for a phased approach to the rebuild from late this year to around summer 2024.Mumbles, which occupies the western edge of Swansea Bay, was first slated to need protection in 2015 when the Welsh Government launched the Coastal Risk Management Programme.Swansea Council was told a rebuild of the wall would provide a one-in-200-year standard of protection against any coastal flooding that could occur.Like what you’ve read?