Porthcawl’s new £6.4m flood defence scheme

Work is underway on a new £6.4m scheme that will help to defend Porthcawl from flooding and any potential future rise in sea levels.

Construction specialists Knights Brown have set up a compound on land at Salt Lake and have commenced the first phase of the work, which is focusing on the iconic Western Breakwater.

The internal structure of the 200 year old breakwater still features its original wooden core, and needs extensive renovation and refurbishment to ensure that it can continue to stand up to the tides and tough maritime weather conditions.

As part of a second phase, Knights Brown will carry out work to upgrade the Eastern Promenade to create improved flood defences between Porthcawl Marina and Coney Beach.

The work will then extend into Sandy Bay and as far as Rhych Point, where flood defences and dune protection works will be upgraded.

The flood defence work is being jointly funded by Welsh Government and Bridgend County Borough Council as part of the Coastal Risk Management Programme.

This new multi-million pound scheme marks the latest investment into Porthcawl and follows the success of the all-new £3m sea defences created at Town Beach.

Built in the 1820s and extended in the 1860s, the Western Breakwater has become world-famous in recent years thanks to dramatic photographs of the huge waves which crash over it during storms, high tides and severe weather.

This project forms a vital part of the infrastructure for defending the town against flooding, and will also help to secure future development in the Salt Lake area of Porthcawl. It will keep more than 500 homes and over 170 businesses safe, and will protect assets and infrastructure worth millions of pounds.

Councillor Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Communities