Littlehampton’s West Beach closure: Major milestone in works to replace 'failing' entrance but 'more complex phases' to follow

In January – during planned dredging of the entrance of Littlehampton Harbour – part of the wall on the west bank of the river ‘sustained significant damage’ that was ‘not repairable’.

Now, construction of the replacement 40-metre section of the failing West Works at the harbour entrance ‘has been completed within budget’.

Littlehampton Harbour said, ‘despite the best attempts’ of Storm Ciaran and Debi to disrupt the original 12 week programme, the site was returned to the board ‘just five days behind schedule’.

A spokesperson said: “This completes phase one of the renewal scheme, which started in the spring of 2023 with the reconstruction of the western most groyne on West Beach and progressed in September to the replacement section of the West Works.

“The replacement section of wall has been designed by Royal Haskoning DHV with a life expectancy in excess of 50 years.

"Its construction included some 200 tons of concrete, 150 tons of steel and relied on extraordinary levels of skill and determination from the contractors Teignmouth Maritime Services.”

Littlehampton Harbour Board’s Chief Executive Office, Colin Monk, explained what this means for the project.

He said: “The completion of this first phase of the project confirms the Harbour Board’s capability to effectively deliver value for money major capital infrastructure programmes, in trying weather conditions, to protect the harbour and its users.

"We will now turn our energies towards delivering the other, more complex phases of the programme; key to securing both the harbour’s long-term viability and its capacity to serve the local community for generations to come.”