Restoring flood defences, enhancing biodiversity and managing coastal risk in Porthcawl

Identifying key vulnerabilities

Sandy Bay has four connected but distinct frontages – Western Breakwater, Eastern Promenade, relict sand dunes, and Rhych Point headland. We applied wave modelling from specialist subconsultant ABPmer to our flood model, and this found that if the Western Breakwater were to fail, some 530 homes and 175 businesses would be at risk of coastal flooding. Understanding the relative costs and benefits of repairing this key asset helped the council fund the project by increasing Welsh Government grant eligibility by £1.2m.

Restoring historic flood defences and enhancing biodiversity

For almost 200 years, Porthcawl’s Western Breakwater has protected the town from extreme weather events. The grade-II listed structure forms a crucial part of Porthcawl’s coastal defences, but a challenging programme of repairs and strengthening measures was needed to maintain its structural integrity. We consulted with the council’s specialists and Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw, to safeguard the listed structure’s heritage value. Early engagement with contractors Knights Brown ensured that our designs could be effectively and safely constructed during low-tide windows and in difficult coastal working conditions.

Our team conducted extensive research to understand the breakwater’s history and previous failures. Combining this information with drone, lidar, geophysical and geotechnical survey data enabled us to understand the structure’s existing weaknesses. We developed a design to reduce the risk of voids and impact of waves, targeting interventions where most needed. We used stone sourced from the original local quarry to replace a failed seaward-sloping wall, grouted voids and constructed a cut-off wall to reduce the risk of future voids forming. To strengthen the slender parapet without damaging the historic masonry, we added Cintec reinforcement – a system combining steel anchors with grout contained in a fabric sock mesh. Our approach minimised the cost and carbon impact of the project, as well as conserving the original character of the listed breakwater. 

To support marine biodiversity, we partnered with CubeX and Swansea University to trial innovative modular textured panels to form an artificial reef and rockpools. Some panels were constructed with concrete mixtures incorporating local crushed cockle shells and ash to replicate the natural environment and encourage marine life such as honeycomb worm reefs. 

Combining flood protection with amenity benefits

Along the Eastern Promenade, repairs, parapet raising and strengthening were needed. A secondary wall to contain waves overtopping the promenade was originally planned but, as we refined our design, overtopping analysis showed that the wall could be replaced with multifunctional planters. These offered the amenities of green space and integrated terraced seating, while minimising service diversions which would have impacted programme cost and disruption. Along with improved cycling and walking routes, our additions make this part of the promenade a more functional and enjoyable space for visitors and locals to use.

Preserving natural dune habitats

The protection achieved by restoring and improving the breakwater meant we could take a regenerative approach to the bay’s relict sand dunes. Instead of carbon-intensive and expensive concrete structures, we opted for low-impact interventions to restore and enhance existing dune habitats. 285m of low-level fencing was installed to encourage the build-up of new dunes. Combined with a growth and stability monitoring plan, these simple measures help maintain the coastal pathway in this part of the bay and complement the council’s Dunes2Dunes programme, encouraging sustainable management of the coastal landscape and connecting important dune ecosystems.

A coastal resilience scheme that delivers more

Correctly framing the problem and using sensitive, risk-based design has been key to success at Sandy Bay. The outcome is a scheme that manages coastal risk; sensitively safeguarding a historic breakwater and restoring sand dune habitat while reinvigorating the seaside promenade. But beyond protecting more than 700 properties from flooding and providing residents and visitors with much needed amenities, the scheme will act as a catalyst to unlock regionally significant strategic regeneration.