Flood defence for Starcross and Cockwood

Work has begun on site which see better protection for several Devonshire coastal villages.

The works will see increased flood protection for Starcross and Cockwood, with the construction of a new £4M coastal flood defence scheme.

More than 660 homes and businesses will benefit from the works, with the Environment Agency installing extra flood mitigation measures to the existing defences.

Two new floodgates will be installed in Starcross at Church Road and Generals Lane slipway, while car park levels will be raised at the Fishing and Cruising Club.

In Cockwood the harbour wall will be improved with a raised level along Dawlish Road in line with predicted sea level rises.

Construction is expected to complete within six months and be finished by summer.

The Environment Agency said: “The storms hitting our coast in the past week demonstrate the importance of tidal defences. We are making a number of improvements to increase the level of flood protection in this area. Across England we are investing £2.6Bn in over 1,500 flood and coastal schemes to help protect homes and businesses at risk. This important scheme has been designed to reduce the risk of tidal flooding to more than 660 residential and commercial properties.”

Construction of this scheme has begun just a few weeks after the £12M Dawlish Warren beach management scheme was opened by Michael Gove. The Dawlish Warren scheme provides increased flood protection to around 2,800 properties in the Exe estuary.

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