MUMBLES COASTAL PROTECTION SCHEME
WELCOME TO
MUMBLES COASTAL PROTECTION SCHEME
The Mumbles Coastal Protection scheme aims to protect the community against coastal flooding and rising tides and will remodel the prom as a safe, modern, inclusive visitor attraction.
Swansea Council recently secured funding under the Welsh Government’s Coastal Risk Management Programme to undertake essential Coastal Protection works to a section of the existing sea defences at Mumbles promenade. The improvement works will afford enhanced flood and coastal erosion protection to businesses and residential properties currently at long-term risk of flooding. The protection works will be undertaken from Knab Rock to a point approximately 250m north of Oystermouth Square.
Knights Brown has been appointed as the contractor to undertake the work, which is currently planned to commence in January 2023 and be completed by Easter 2025.
The project, driven by Swansea Council, will help protect the community’s homes, businesses and people for decades to come. It also aims to improve Mumbles as a destination, with new lighting, litter bins, seating and better links to Mumbles Road.
JOIN US...
JANUARY 30 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
VICTORIA HALL, MUMBLES
We would like to invite you to join us at our latest information-sharing session for the
Mumbles Coastal Protection Scheme
It is a brilliant opportunity to meet the team and ask any questions you may have about the project.
LATEST INFORMATION
North tie-in to Oyster Wharf
Works on the concrete sea wall along this stretch are complete, and the secondary wall is substantially finished. Public lighting has been installed, allowing this section to open for public use over Christmas. Reconstruction of the Seaview steps continues, with the replacement stairs now cast and finishing works underway. This progress will soon enable beach access to be reinstated. Over the coming weeks, planters near Oyster Wharf will be completed, paving the way for applying buff-coloured surfacing and installing street furniture along the completed promenade. Additionally, the single concrete wall featuring an artwork panel near Prezzo has been successfully completed and has received positive feedback from promenade users. Efforts to preserve the existing Mumbles tramway poles in the car park area have also been undertaken by repainting them to ensure their longevity for years to come.
Oyster Wharf to Southend Slipway
The seawall and revetment work for the final few bays along this section is nearing completion, which will facilitate the installation of the stainless steel balustrade. Earthworks and ducting operations continue to shape the promenade and pathways adjacent to Mumbles Gardens. Topsoil placement is imminent in preparation for tree planting and landscaping in
this area. A new pedestrian crossing point has been constructed at Promenade Terrace, enabling progress on the section fronting the terrace. A revised planting scheme is also being developed for the northern verge area of Promenade Terrace.
Southend Slipway
Reconstruction of the Southend Slipway, which began before Christmas, is progressing well, with reinforced concrete revetment and step formation underway. Completing the slipway will allow for the installation of the large floodgate, after which the focus will shift to the enhancement of the public realm. These will include pathways, public lighting, street furniture, and areas for play equipment along the wider promenade. Improvements will also be made to the eastern end of Promenade Terrace, encompassing replacement drainage, updated lighting, and widened footpaths.
Southend Slipway to Pilot Slipway
Revetment works and handrail installation in this area have been successfully completed, enabling public access over Christmas. Infrastructure for public lighting has also been installed. Current efforts involve constructing the secondary masonry wall and undertaking landscaping work in preparation for surfacing, pathway creation, street furniture installations, and tree planting.
Pilot Slipway to Verdi’s
The main focus in this area is the construction of the Pilot Slip retaining wall and completing the remaining wave return structures along the revetment near Verdi’s. Meanwhile, significant progress is being made on the flanks of the Pilot Slipway, with work on the main ramp set to follow once the retaining wall construction concludes. This will enable the installation of large stainless steel floodgates at the top of both ramps. Upon completing these structural works, the surfacing and public lighting will be installed to support the return of the land train to its original turning point.
Archaeological Finds
We have had lots of questions about whether we have found anything of archaeological interest during our work.
Prior to commencing work, archaeologists had documented existing known assets that could be affected by the works.
We also undertook investigation work in areas where we anticipated assets could be disturbed. As part of the project, we have an archaeologist who oversees our work and undertakes a watching brief of ongoing excavations in the peat.
To date, the following items have been discovered:
May 23: Bow Section of an oyster boat – investigated and re-buried
Section of trackway – adjacent to one of the wrecks – old worked timber -removed to Lampeter University for further investigation
Oct 23: Small piece of tram track.
Plaque from Swansea gas light company was lent on hire in 1891.
April 2023 - We uncovered a piece of maritime history near the Southend slipway - a large timber vessel. Our archaeologists are diligently documenting this find.
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PROJECT OVERVIEW
Mumbles is currently protected by two types of coastal defences; a 0.5km-long mass concrete vertical sea wall that runs from Oystermouth Square to the bowling green area and a 0.7km sloping revetment structure that runs from the bowling green area to near Verdi's.
Some of these existing defences were built over a century ago and are in poor condition and at risk of flooding. The flood risk level is expected to increase in the future due to predicted sea level rises. A lack of action would put a number of homes and businesses at risk of flooding. The main aim of this project is to strengthen the sea wall and raise the heights of key parts of it to protect the area from future flooding.
The project will combine enhanced coastal defences with improvements to the Promenade right next to the main seawall.
The main areas of work will include:
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bringing the prom up to one level as it currently dips gradually from both ends (Verdis and Oyster Wharf) by up to around half a metre in the middle section
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strengthening the main coastal defence structure, main wall and revetment.
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replace existing railings with a low pedestrian wall similar to that currently at the Oystermouth Square car park.
Work will include widening the existing promenade to create a share with care pedestrian footpath and cycleway. This will improve connectivity and accessibility and promote sustainable active travel. Other public realm improvements include improved seating, views and connectivity, with enhanced hard and soft landscaping.
Work will see parts of the prom closed to the public in a phased manner throughout the work, expected to take around 22 months.
Access to homes and businesses will remain throughout.
Latest Progress Flight & Images
SEPTEMBER 2024
Latest Progress Flight & Images
November 2023
October Progress Flight
October Update
It has been a busy month for our site team as work has continued along the foreshore and on the promenade.
We’ve been hard at work constructing the stepped bases on the foreshore, and to date, 32 stepped bases have been cast within the section by Oystermouth Car Park. Work will continue on the remaining stepped bases during the winter months.
Construction work has also started on the wall sections that contain weep holes cored through the existing sea wall; these holes will allow residual groundwater to pass through the new works. Once we have completed the step sections in that location they will be backfilled and we will commence concrete pours to construct the sea walls.
We have started reinforcing the revetment between the tennis courts and Southend Slipway. So far, we have completed half a dozen lower concrete pours. These works are being completed around the tides. On the Promenade, we have completed a 75m stretch of secondary stone flood wall from the Oyster House hotel up to the end of Promenade Terrace. We are currently working on the stone planters and seating areas in front of Prezzo, aiming to complete the work during the winter months
when footfall is lower. These works will continue for the next 3-4 weeks and are weather-dependent. While these works are being undertaken, there will be a localised pedestrian diversion past the Oyster House Hotel area. Signage and lights have been erected to ensure the safety of pedestrians. Cyclists are required to dismount through the diverted area.
