Following the approval of this stretch of the KCIIIECP by the Secretary of State (SoS) in July 2024, the project team have been reviewing the points raised in the Planning Inspector’s report and working on ensuring that the following key points are addressed as part of the project:

·         Designs need to improve accessibility (ramps) and have non-slip surface

·         Designs need to facilitate access at all states of predicted tides

·         Inclusion of extra information boards to warn users that in extreme weather the path may be inundated in storm conditions

·         Markers or barrier to be installed to show edge of path

·         Works on the culvert/bridge to be subject to a Flood risk activity permit (FRAP)

·         Screening to be offered to all leaseholders along the seawall

·         The Slipway/path alongside dingy park should not be blocked

·         A roped off area would be included along the foreshore in order to reduce the trampling of this section of the shoreline and to allow saltmarsh/vegetation to establish/re-establish.

·         The Planning Inspector dismissed concerns over privacy, potential change in value of adjacent properties, the project’s value for money, possibility of sea debris being deposited upon infrastructure, and how the project may impact the amount of time the path can be used considering the existing public right of way follows the same route and the improved accessibility/safety of the proposals will offer significant benefits to local walkers and KCIIIECP users.

Design Change Requests

 

Since the decision by the SoS, the KCIIIECP project team received a request from Maisemore Gardens Ltd to add extra protection to the existing boardwalk design as a way to help protect the existing seawall. The suggested design was of ‘gravel’ type boards set in the surface of the foreshore, affixed to the boardwalk piles closest to the seawall and backfilled with shingle/rejects. This design element has been considered by the project team – see more under ‘Boardwalk’ below.

The preliminary designs showed that the ‘ramp’ of the existing walkway would be removed and the boardwalk butted up to the end of the walkway. MGL requested that rather than the ramp being removed a short section was added to the ramp to square it off. This design element has been considered by the project team – see more under ‘Boardwalk’ below.

In addition, the project team also received requests from locals to remove the handrail from the boardwalk design and to replace this with a small up-stand/toe board. This design element has been considered and accepted by the project team.

Included with this note are updated preliminary designs that include the above requests. These designs are for the purposes of the procurement process, they are not final design drawings. The winning contractor, through the competitive procurement process, will undertake their own designs/specification and therefore these designs are subject to change.

 

Culvert/Path Surfacing Works

 

The outline designs, for raising the level of the path and repair of the culvert, will be used as the basis of a design and build request for tender/quote via a HCC Framework for contractors. This is standard procurement practice for projects like this and HCC procurement team recommended this as the next stage in this project. This means that final designs will be supplied by the winning contractors based on their individual methods of working as part of the procurement process.

Once tenders have been received and assessed, HCC will apply to Natural England for the KCIIIECP establishment grant and contractors will be appointed once the grant has been approved.

Once contractors have been appointed, we will make public any details of the final design that are not commercially sensitive.

 

The information from the appointed contractor will be used for the FRAP application to EA. Once an application is duly made EA have 2-4 months to determine whether to issue the permit.

Once the permit has been issued work can commence on site. Currently we are hoping that we can start work during July but this is dependent on the EA issuing the permit and we have included a contingency until the end of October 2025 for this work being completed.

The Culvert/Path Works will include but not be limited to the following:

·         Repair/replacement of broken culvert

·         Raising of path level above culvert to meet with current highest predicted tides

·         Works do not obstruct vehicular access to Nore Barn Woods or access from the private dingy park/slipway

·         Associated drainage from fields/woods to the north of the site

·         Handrail/safety fencing to stop people falling off the side of the raised path sections

·         Fencing of degraded area of foreshore to the south of the site to reduce footfall and encourage revegetation of habitat

·         New path surface to encourage responsible access to the west of the fenced area extending from the raised path section to the path towards the picnic bench.

·         The public footpath will be closed and therefore public access will be restricted for short periods of time whilst certain elements of the work will be undertaken – contractor to determine timings – this will be to ensure the safety of both the public and the team working on site.

Boardwalk

The project team will undertake a similar procurement process where contractors will be asked to design and build the boardwalk. As with the culvert works, final designs will be developed by the contractor and again we will make public any details of the final design that are not commercially sensitive. The contractor’s method statement will determine the method of construction.

 

We are taking forward the design request from local people to remove the handrail and provide an upstand edge to the boardwalk.

Taking advice from other authorities building similar structures along the KCIIIECP has led to the recommendation of the use of ‘Polywalk’ boardwalk materials - https://polydeck.co.uk/polywalk/ . The justifications for using this material include:

·         Lifespan (75 years) in the marine environment compared to timber (5-10 years)

·         Non-slip surface is guaranteed again compared to timber or recycled plastic

·         Environmentally friendly – the boardwalk’s core contains 140 recycled 500ml plastic bottles per square metre, whereas wood preservatives can leach harmful and toxic contaminants into the environment

·         Can be easily un-screwed and re-fixed as there is no warping/degradation

·         Lightweight – therefore the materials can be walked onto site reducing potential vehicular damage to the foreshore

·         Meets and exceeds standard requirements in regards to loading capacity

·         Can be manufactured to size, off-site meaning that installation is quicker and easier

 

We have considered the request by MGL to square off the end of the ramp by adding material rather than taking any away. We can confirm that the ramp will not be removed as part of the installation of the boardwalk. If required for installation purposes the project will add to the ramp if we can be assured that doing so would not affect the integrity of the ramp itself and that it can be affixed without any problems.

 

Before we can progress with this element of the KCIIIECP establishment project we need to have received written confirmation from Maisemore Gardens Ltd (MGL)/owners of the seawall that they wish the KCIIIECP project team to include the extra protection (boards and backfill) into the boardwalk design. If this is included, the complete removal of the boardwalk will not be possible without this element being lost.

The written confirmation should include that MGL/owners of the seawall will contribute the additional cost to the project for the inclusion of this work and that MGL/owners of the seawall will assume full responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of this element of the project. We estimate the additional design and installation cost of this element to be in the region of £10,000 but this will be confirmed once prices have been obtained from contractors. To note, KCIIIECP funds strictly cannot be used towards this element of the boardwalk design as it has been determined as a form of sea defence, which as a principle the KCIIIECP does not fund. Following completion of the project, HCC and the KCIIIECP will