✅COASTS Case Study - Medmerry

Question 1

Where is Medmerry coast

Answer 1

West Sussex

Question 2

How much management does Medmerry require?

Answer 2

A lot due to flood risk.
It’s the largest coastal realignment scheme in Europe

Question 3

What is coastal realignment

Answer 3

involves dismantling any existing coastal defences, and allowing the sea to encroach inland to a pre-determined ‘set back’ line. This reduces wave energy, and minimises the effects of any predicted rise in sea level as a result of global warming. It is a form of land use zoning.
Protection against flooding

Question 4

What is at risk of flooding

Answer 4

over 300 properties, a water treatment plant

Question 5

Flood breach damage cost

Answer 5

Last breach cost £5 million

Question 6

What has the coastal realignment involved

Answer 6

involving a 2km embankment using clay from the area
110m breach made in the shingle bank to allow the sea to flood the land to create a new intertidal range

Question 7

Hard engineering used?

Answer 7

60,000 tonnes of rock armour

Question 8

Cost of scheme

Answer 8

£28 million
Old beach reprofiling scheme was only £0.2 million a year, but with climate change, there is increased risk