Multi-million pound sea defence scheme in Portsmouth granted marine licence

The Southsea Coastal Scheme has been granted a marine licence by the Marine Management Organisation, which is the equivalent of planning permission for work below average tide height.

It comes after the estimated £130m scheme was granted planning permission in by Portsmouth City Council in December last year.

Councillor Steve Pitt, the council's city development boss, said: 'It's great news we've secured a marine licence for the project and a testament to all the hard work the project team continues to do during these testing times.

'A lot is happening in the background in preparation for the Southsea Coastal Scheme, which is still planned to start later on this year and the team is making great progress.'

The marine licence clears the way for work below average tide height, such as replacing and adding beach material, placement of rock along the seafront and other work on sea walls and structures towards the sea.

Approval of the full business case, which was submitted in October 2019, is now needed to unlock the required government funding for the scheme.

Construction work on the first section of defences - at Long Curtain Moat - is planned to begin later this year.

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