Brighton Coastal Defence Event

If you have been walking along the seafront lately, you might have noticed the construction work near the King Alfred Leisure Centre. There is a new field of groynes being built between the centre and Second Avenue by the marine contractor Van Oord UK Ltd. To explain what is happening with the Brighton Marina and River Adur coastal defence scheme, there is an event taking place on Thursday, 16 April 2026, inside the ballroom of the King Alfred Leisure Centre.

The session for local residents runs from 17:00 to 19:00. It is set up to provide updates on the project, which involves pumping shingle from a marine borrow area east of the Isle of Wight to extend the beach. This process is designed to protect the coastline from flooding, erosion, and rising sea levels, ultimately aiming to safeguard local homes and businesses. During these hours, you can speak directly with the project team, view interactive displays, and hear from guest speakers involved in the work.

Among the speakers are Nicola Aitken from the timber supplier Gilmour and Aitken, and Jane Miller OBE, the former UK High Commissioner to the Republic of Guyana. Paul Hesk, the Managing Director of Van Oord UK Ltd, will also be there to discuss the technical side of the project. As Paul Hesk noted, this is an opportunity for residents to see the work being done on the seafront.

Alongside the resident-focused session, there is an 'Immersive Education Event' organised for local schoolchildren. This part of the programme includes a wave tank demonstration, a wood education station, and a visit to the 'Guyana Forest' inside an immersion dome. The goal is to help younger people understand the measures being taken to protect Brighton and Hove from the impacts of climate change, while potentially sparking an interest in engineering and environmental advocacy.