A £12.7 million sea defence scheme has been completed along the seafront at Minehead, Somerset. We were involved as environmental and landscape consultants, making important contributions to the project throughout.

The scheme was built in two stages: the first stage saw the construction of the sea wall, rock groynes and armouring and the second stage involved the replenishment of the foreshore. We influenced the design of the basic engineering components to increase their amenity value and improve their appearance, appropriate to a busy seafront so important to the regional tourist economy.

The unique curved profile and stone facing of the new sea wall creates a distinctive unifying element, along with three landmark circular viewing platforms with ramps, allowing safe access to the beach. Part of the sea wall lies within a Conservation Area, and close attention to streetscape design, materials and detailing has been necessary. Seafront planting has become successfully established, through careful selection of species tolerant of the prevailing conditions.

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