This publication sets out the Environment Agency proposals for the coastline from Pagham to East Head.

To download a copy click on the image or click here.

A brief summary of the Planning for the Future document follows below...

• 1. What's happening?
• With global warming, sea levels are rising & the sea is stormier
• Our coast defences need repair, but there’s no Government money for this
• The District Council won’t continue to maintain the coast defences as it has done in the past, because of the rising costs.
• The District Council & Environment Agency have suggested repairing some bits, but letting others disappear under the sea, with the loss of houses and land
• The District Council is asking who should pay for the repairs – everyone in the District, or just the people in Selsey, or the Manhood Peninsula?

• 2. What would happen to Selsey if there are no repairs?
• At Medmerry, within a year, 28 houses would be under water, and a huge area west & north of Selsey subject to regular flooding at high tides, including the B2145. We would be cut off from Chichester during flooding
• At East Beach, after 20 years the defences would start to fail, and 1000 homes would be at risk from flooding and erosion
• At West Beach, after 2 years the defences would start to fail. 150 homes could be lost to the sea over the next 100 years. (note: part of the sea wall has already collapsed since the publication of the proposals).

• 3. What do the Council/Environment Agency propose?
• At Medmerry, building a bank inland to protect Selsey’s road and sewage works, at a cost of £7.5m, but letting a huge area of low lying land flood, including 28 homes, half the caravan sites and the Oasis. £2.5m for a similar bank to protect Earnly and Bracklesham.
• At Selsey Bill, to do nothing. The sea could reach the first houses within 5 years, 100 houses could be lost over 100 years
• At East Beach, maintain the defences, at a cost of £13m
• At West Beach, maintain the defences, at a cost of £4m
• At Church Norton, maintain the shingle for 20yrs, at a cost of £5m

• 4. Who will pay for the works?
• The Council & Environment Agency are asking who should pay:
1. the people “directly affected” (which probably means everyone in Selsey, because we all need the B2145 connection to Chichester),
2. the people living on the Manhood Peninsula,
3. everyone in the Chichester Council District.
• We are told that government funding is "unlikely"
• This could mean that Selsey residents have to find roughly £30m to protect their town (equivalent to £3000 each!)