Looe proposed flood defence and regeneration scheme

LATEST NEWS: 

£2.3m grant for Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration Scheme

Plans to deliver a vital flood defence and regeneration scheme for Looe have taken a major step forward - thanks to a £2.3 million grant.

The Defra Flood Defence Grant in Aid grant will enable Cornwall Council and its key partners to complete work on preparing the outline business case– the next key stage in securing the Government, and other sources of funding, needed to deliver the scheme.

Please visit the News Feed section below for more information about the funding.

Building on the engagement events held last November, the project team will be holding a series of design workshops during the last week of April to provide an update on the scheme and further explore what stakeholders, the community and businesses see as the key priorities for the breakwater layout of the flood defence design. These sessions are being held at the Quayside Centre in Looe on:

• Friday 29^th April- 10:00-12:00 and 15.00-19.00
• Saturday 30^th April- 10.00-15.00
• Online Zoom event on Tuesday, 3 May 18.00 

 You can view a short film about the scheme here: 

Looe is already the most frequently flooded coastal town in the UK, causing £39m of damage to homes and businesses during the period 2013-2017 (Source: Business Survey by Cornwall Development Company).

Over the next 100 years, sea levels are predicted to rise by more than 1 metre as a result of climate change, threatening even more parts of the town. These include the health centre, the police and fire stations, main food stores and cafes and the fish market, as well as major transport links such as the A387 and the railway station. Urgent action needs to be taken to reduce the extremely high risk of further coastal flooding and erosion in Looe.

The main aims of the proposed scheme are to:

• Protect Looe from frequent and severe flooding and damage over the next 50 -100 years, giving the community time to adapt to a changing climate.
• Enhance the overall environmental integrity of the designated sites and water bodies.
• Work to promote economic growth in East Cornwall by:
• Protecting key transport links (rail, road, ferry and cycle hub)
• Protecting and enhancing the visitor and marine economy

The proposed Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration Scheme includes:

1. A tidal barrier which will close when flooding is likely
2. A southern breakwater to prevent overtopping of the flood gates during tidal surges, provide a shelter for vessels when the flood gates are closed and protect Hannafore Road.
3. An extension to the Banjo pier, creating a low water landing stage providing boat access at all states of the tide.
4. A cut-off wall below East Looe beach to prevent tidal flooding bypassing the tidal barrier
5. A separate low-level walkway from Pennyland in the town to Hannafore

Current plans for the positions and lengths of piers are likely to evolve in response to wave modelling and ecology, and commercial issues.

By delivering a scheme which reduces the risk of flooding, attracts widespread support, secures all the necessary approvals and permissions, and is capable of being funded, we can protect homes, businesses and key transport links in and around the town, at the same time as enhancing the marine and visitor economy.

This is a major project which will have a significant impact on the town. There was overwhelming public support for the proposals put forward by the Harbour Commissioners in 2015 and we want to work with the local community to develop the final scheme.

A big thank you to everyone who attended the Information events about the Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration scheme which were held last year. The presentation from the events can be accessed here :

The two animations that were presented during the presentation can be viewed in the video section.

We have also installed a new tide gauge at the harbour to measure the water level in the harbour 24 hours a day, every day. This is providing vital information on the risk of flooding and how often Looe floods, as well as helping to improve predictions of storm surges. You can view a short film about the tide gauge here 

A number of different options have considered as potential solutions during the past 20 years. Following detailed consideration, only one – the tidal barrier scheme – was considered viable.

In July 2015 Looe Harbour Commissioners funded work to develop proposals for a new food defence scheme. The outcome was supported by 95% of local residents and landowners. in 2020 Cornwall Council’s Cabinet agreed to support the development of the Looe Flood Defence project, allocating £2.3m from the South-East Cornwall Regeneration Programme.

Since then Cornwall Council members and officers have been working with Looe Harbour Commissioners, Looe Town Council, Looe Development Trust, West Looe Town Trust, East Looe Town Trust, the Environment Agency, the RNLI and local MP Sheryll Murray to turn the proposals into an economically viable and environmentally friendly solution to the town’s tidal flooding challenges.

Partners have agreed to adopt an accelerated programme for the scheme which could bring its delivery forward by two years. This means work could begin on developing detailed designs at the same time as seeking the necessary permissions for the scheme (including the harbour revision order, planning permission and marine licences).

We have been working with a Contractor to look at the construction programme. Due to the slight pause created by the latest engagement noted above and if planning is approved and funding is secured, then construction could begin in 2025 with the scheme completed between 2027-2028 – still ahead of the original schedule.

You can give us your views on the proposals on our discussion forum. You can also email us at LooeFloodDefence@cornwall.gov.uk .