Paignton and Preston Promenade Coastal Flood Protection Scheme

We prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of our site team, minimising the impact of our work on the environment and the public, and making a positive contribution through open and proactive engagement.

The contract involves constructing coastal flood defences and enhancing public spaces.

Upon completion, the scheme will protect local properties and businesses and help attract more visitors to the region. It promises long-term benefits for everyone, securing the future of Paignton and Preston.

Approach

To minimise the impact on local tourism, businesses and regular seafront users, the construction will be carried out in phases. Access to sections of the seafront will be maintained as development progresses.

Events on Paignton and Preston Greens will be protected as much as possible. While there may be some disruption during construction, we are committed to ensuring that businesses can continue to operate and events, including those organised by the council, can still take place.

Background to the scheme

The planning application for the coastal flood protection scheme was approved at the planning committee meeting on 24 June 2024. The approved scheme was shaped by multiple rounds of stakeholder and public engagement activities between 2021 and 2023.

Initially, the concept was a traditional frontline concrete sea wall. However, the scheme has evolved into a tiered sea defence with enhanced placemaking in the seafront areas, informed by feedback from residents and stakeholders.

The development will provide high quality coastal defences and improved public spaces, essential for protecting the future of Paignton and Preston seafronts, residential properties, businesses and the town centre.

The sea defences at both Paignton and Preston seafronts are crucial to protect these areas from rising sea levels over the next 50 years. By implementing these defences now, the risk of flooding can be significantly reduced.