Policy paper

Lydd Ranges sea defence scheme

Updated 17 February 2021

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Background

Work is due to start in April 2021 to improve the existing frontage to maintain a sea defence along the existing alignment. Once completed it will help better protect this environmentally important area and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Lydd firing range from ongoing storm damage and coastal erosion for 25 years.

At Lydd Ranges, the existing shingle beach is being strengthened by:

  • building timber groynes
  • recharging the rapidly eroding beach
  • stabilising the Green Wall trackway in front of the ranges

The beach is vulnerable to storm damage which has been experienced over recent winters.

The frontage is owned and operated by the MoD and is a live firing range. It is one of the Ministry’s most important training sites in the country, contributing to national security.

Environmental designations

The area also lies within a number of environmental designations. These recognise the importance of the wider Dungeness foreland and its associated wildlife habitats:

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
  • Special Protection Area (SPA)
  • Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
  • Ramsar (important wetlands habitat)

These designations are protected by Natural England.

Planning permission and works

The Environment Agency has worked closely with both Natural England and the MoD to develop the planning application for the scheme. This is to ensure that the scheme design will minimise damage to the existing habitats and include the provision of any required compensatory habitat.

The Lydd Ranges sea defence scheme will cost in the region of £40 million.

Planning permission was granted in December 2020 which will enable work to start in April 2021.

This will comprise:

  • installation of a 1.8 kilometre groyne field east of Jury’s Gap and recharging of this section of beach with shingle
  • a further 5.6 kilometres of frontage will be left open to coastal processes, although some shingle re-profiling may be required
  • improvement of the existing track (the Green Wall) and relocation of an existing outfall at Denge, inland
  • periodic shingle recharge at the groyne field once the scheme is complete, as well as occasional work to repair any storm damage.

Folkestone to Cliff End Strategy (FoCES)

Lydd Ranges forms part of the Folkestone to Cliff End Strategy (FoCES) approved by Defra in 2010. The strategy sets out our plans to manage flood and erosion risks along the coastline of Romney Marsh over the next 100 years, taking the predicted impacts of climate change into account.

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