Massive scheme underway to repair Plymouth's waterfront

Repair work across 12 miles of Plymouth’s waterfront is now well underway.

Contractors already onsite at some of the city’s most famous waterfront features as part of a massive project to repair as much as of the winter storm damage as possible ahead of the summer.

A total of 60 assets, ranging from walls and paths to the lido and piers, were damaged along the shoreline running from Devonport to Jennicliff.

Over the last eight weeks the Council has been surveying the extent of the damage as well as procuring specialist contractors and crucially, trying to find funding to pay for the work. And it estimates the costs of all the repairs to be in the region of £2 million.

So far, contractors have been commissioned to carry out the following repairs:

Tinside – including damage to fountains, concrete repairs, coping stones being re-laid, repairing pumps. This is expected to be around £150,000. The aim is for it to be completed before the second May bank holiday
Mount Wise pools – concrete repairs and repairs to the pumps in the region of £45,000 after the pools were repeatedly flooded
The Mount Batten area suffered extensive damage over the storms and while the landing stage, which threatened to come adrift, received £35,000 worth of repairs, more extensive work is need for the breakwater pier. The entire promenade needs to be repaved after blocks were ripped up by the force of the water. A void has also appeared in the key sea defence and needs to be repaired. Inspections are dictated by extreme low tides and the repair work
Elsewhere at Mount Batten, sea defences were smashed, steps to the beach left dangling in mid- air alongside other significant erosion issues. Nearby Spinnaker Quay is also fenced off following damage to walls and steps. Repairs across the Mount Batten area are expected to run to several hundred thousand pounds.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for Finance said: “Our staff worked extremely hard to assess the scale of the damage, employ specialist contractors as well as try to find sources of funding to deal with this.

“We have already applied for support from the Environment Agency but we have to be clear that only the pools are covered by insurance. You cannot insure sea-walls, for instance. £2 million worth of repairs are now on our to-do list which will need to come out of the Council’s accounts. As always, we have to prioritise.

“We understand that people may be concerned about fences blocking their way onto our waterfront, but our priority is to keep people safe while we assess the damage and look at how we can carry out repairs in a financial environment where all areas are competing for less money. We hope this gives people an idea of how much work there needs to be done and what we are up against.”

Sarah O’Leary, Waterfront Manager for Plymouth Waterfront Partnership said “The repairs needed are extensive and it’s going to take time for Plymouth City Council to complete the costly essential works. Summer is fast approaching and a raft of high profile Waterfront events including La Solitaire du Figaro and British Firework Championships are sure to draw crowds to the foreshore.

“Council teams responded brilliantly, during the storms working extremely fast to assist businesses affected and clean up the debris to prevent greater damage. Now in depth assessments have been completed it’s critical works are prioritised effectively and repair works commenced at the earliest opportunity to ensure the foreshore is accessible.”

“Whilst frustrating at this time, we ask everyone to respect the Council’s fencing and stay safe while walking in affected foreshore areas.”

Other locations which have now been surveyed include:

Jennicliff - collapse of footpath and steps to beach, landslips, pathway washed away. The beach is now completely inaccessible.
West Hoe Pier – damage to stonewall, masonry punched by waves, surface damage. Marine inspections underway shortly.
Hoe Foreshore West (Pebblestone Beach) numerous areas suffering from missing granite steps, broken concrete walkway sections, railing damage
Oreston Quay – damage to quay wall next to slipway
Barbican West Pier , Mayflower Steps, Baltic Wharf – minor damage to stones and walls – hoping to invest in flood protection measures
Lion’s Den – damage to walls and steps, damaged semi-circular colonnade cracking and damage to seating
Hoe promenade shelters – damage to roof slates, lead work and fascias
Devil’s Point and Western Kings – damage to several sets of steps down to the beaches, collapse of sea wall, erosion due to high waves, damage to bathing huts
Strand Street, Stonehouse – damage to quay wall near Strand Street
Mutton Cove quayside and harbour – cracking to left hand side of quayside behind pier; deterioration and damage to walls, slipway
Pottery Quay – blown areas of stonework to quay front, missing stonework leaving a void in the quay face