FAQS: Mundesley Coastal Management Scheme

The work will be completed at Mundesley by summer 2025.

Work will take place between 7am and 6pm. However, due to tidal constraints, some parts of the work, such as rock delivery placement, will need to be done outside these hours.

The Environment Agency, North Norfolk District Council and Mundesley Parish Council are funding the project.

The rock comes from Glensanda quarry, located in west Scotland.

There are three grades of rock.

• 15kg to 300kg with an average diameter of 0.4 metres
• 300kg to 1,000kg with an average diameter of 0.7 metres
• 3,000kg to 6,000kg with an average diameter of 1.2 metres

On the west beach, the temporary rock stockpile will go behind the timber revetment. Rock structure will be placed in front of the steel-framed structure. At the eastern end, a rock structure will be placed in front of the seawall by Mundesley Independent Lifeboat Station and The Anglian Water Pump Station.

It is designed to take the energy out of the waves. This will preserve the life of the seawall and protect the assets and cliffs behind the steel-framed structure.

Rock is delivered at every high tide, depending on the weather.

The big hole is to construct the rock structure.

The cross-section shows the estimated size of the rock structure.

A big boat delivers the rock to a transhipment zone three nautical miles offshore. Part of the boat's load is unloaded onto a barge. The barge comes into the shore during high tide, and the rock is dropped onto the foreshore. When the tide goes out, the rock is recovered using the excavators and dumpers and sorted into the different stockpile locations on the beach.

The plant size is based on weight. The dumpers are 40 tonnes, and the excavators are 50 tonnes, which is between four and five double-decker buses!

The black membrane is a very strong geotextile. It is designed to prevent the rocks from sinking into the beach over time and to prevent fine beach material from entering the rock structure, which would reduce its effectiveness.

The concrete blocks will be put back in, and rocks will be placed in front of the structure.

Yes, the coastal paths will remain open.

The remainder of the car park will be open while the work is done.

Some localised beach closures will be necessary while the rock is unloaded.

Excavations, like surveying the groynes, will be made safe before allowing public access. This work will only be above the tide level.

Yes, machinery will come next to Bacton Gas Terminal and track along the beach, which will then be stored by the Lifeboat House on Mundesley beach. A 'high seat' will be created from material or rock, and the excavator can be stored on the rock. If there is a big storm, it will leave through the terminal. 

Construction signs will show where the work is taking place, and marshals will make sure the public is kept safe during these activities. They will stop the work immediately if it is dangerous to people or dogs. Temporary barriers will be used when the beach work is dependent on tides. We will provide monthly factsheets locally to share information with people and visitors. There will also be project information boards located at key access points.

With projects like this, you often find things of archaeological interest, but so far, we have not found anything.

Yes, but caution should be used when walking near the cliffs due to the risk of cliff falls.

Access steps over the revetment will be available.