Happisburgh to Winterton groynes in urgent need of repair

The Environment Agency has said 26 groynes between Happisburgh and Winterton are in urgent need of restoration after becoming "not fit for purpose" due to years of being weathered by the North Sea.

It hopes to fix the important structures, which serve as front-line defences preventing the erosion of beaches through the movement of sand and other material - known as longshore drift.

The beach at Winterton is at high risk of erosion (Image: Newsquest)

The project comes as locals in Hemsby, a few miles south of Winterton, are still reeling from the news that planned sea defences to protect their homes have become too expensive and will not be funded. 

It is part of a larger series of works to protect the long stretch of vulnerable coastline, also encompassing the beaches of Sea Palling and Horsey which are home to a huge colony of grey seals.

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In a report, agents for the Environment Agency said: "This is a vital sea defence for the many inhabitants of this area of Norfolk and also acts as a barrier to prevent damage to the Broads."

People at Horsey Beach observing the seals (Image: Newsquest)

The existing timber and steel groynes will be demolished and excavations of the beach will be made.

These are then filled with a lower layer of rock armour before the groynes are installed.

The materials have a long way to travel before reaching the Norfolk coast.

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The groynes are coming from Norway via a sea-going barge, transporting the 45,000 tonnes needed over several trips.

The journey can take as long as three days depending on the sea conditions.

The work will be carried out in the summer to avoid disturbing the grey seal colony which visits Horsey beach in the winter months (Image: Newsquest)

The project is expected to be completed by October 31, 2026, and preliminary work has already begun.

Construction work will only take place in the summer months to avoid disturbing the grey seal population that visit each year between October and the spring.

Mitigation measures will be taken to avoid disturbing little terns and ringed plovers, which nest in the dunes along this stretch of coast.