Yesterday I was invited to inspect the progress on the Environment Agency’s £75 million project to renew Canvey’s sea defences along the south of the island.

The ‘Canvey Island Southern Shoreline Revetment Project’ is one of the largest such projects the Environment Agency are currently carrying out in the UK. It is also the single largest investment in Canvey Island's tidal defences since they were completed in the early 1980s.

The project is designed to make sure the island remains free from the risk of tidal flooding until at least 2070. As well as upgrading a 2 mile stretch of the revetment, it also involves the replacement of the older parts of the flood defences that were put in place in the 1930s. Work started on the project in January and I am pleased to report it is now well underway. It is due to be complete in the Autumn of 2025.

The £75 million investment is funded by the Government through the ‘Flood Defence Grant-In-Aid’ program.

I am very impressed with the works so far and I am pleased that they are currently on schedule. I am also very pleased that the Environment Agency are continuing to actively communicate with the community with their regular public drop-ins and a weekly opportunity for Canvey residents to meet with the leaders of the project.

You can find out more information on the works via the Environment Agency’s dedicated website for the project: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/.../canvey.../