Huge Fylde Council update on £400,000 funding for vital repair work on St Annes historic seawall

A £400,000 funding package has been approved to progress vital repair work on St Annes’ historic seawall, with the project intended to protect homes, businesses and the town’s promenade for the next 100 years.

Fylde Council members agreed the new capital scheme addition for 2026/27 at a meeting on Tuesday 22 September. The funding is provided entirely by the Environment Agency’s Regional Area Programme Delivery Mandate and will fund detailed design and technical development work on a 660-metre stretch of the seawall, running from the mini golf site to the View Café.

The preferred approach will involve applying a durable concrete overlay to the existing seawall and promenade, alongside a new sea outfall and storage system to manage wave overtopping. The proposed works also are intended to provide stronger flood and erosion protection for 510 local properties and businesses, including protection against a 1-in-200-year storm event.

Specialist contractor VolkerStevin Boskalis Westminster (VBA) has been appointed through the Environment Agency’s Beach Management Framework to carry out the design and early contractor involvement work, with the project backed by a £350,000 contract.

Councillor Thomas Threlfall, Lead Member for Environment, said: “This is fantastic news for St Annes. Our seafront is the heart of the town, and this funding means we can finally move forward with a practical, deliverable plan that will protect 510 properties and businesses from flooding and extreme weather for generations to come.

“I want to thank Council officers and the Environment Agency for their hard work and continued partnership in protecting our coastline.”

Design work is expected to get underway in the coming months and a further report will be presented before any future construction phase begins.