Work to start on Happisburgh car park relocation

Date published: 23rd January 2026

The Council, via the Coastwise scheme, is starting work next week on the replacement car park in Happisburgh. 

The first stage of work will include setting up the welfare spaces and fencing off the area; groundwork will commence the following week. 

The car park will be relocated from its existing site to a location just off Lighthouse Lane. As far as possible, we will aim to keep the existing car park open until the new one is completed.

Happisburgh Car Park Plan

Happisburgh has had a car park for many years. The original car park was moved to its current location in 2011 through the Pathfinder scheme, following its loss to erosion.

Coastwise previously funded work to enable continued access via the existing entrance to the car park as coastal erosion progressed. This has extended the life of the car park in its current form. However, it is only a temporary solution; as further cliff is lost, this entrance will become unsafe for vehicle access.  

The construction work will include decommissioning the existing car park and entrance, reusing materials where feasible, construction of the new entrance, highway improvements, construction of the car park, installation of necessary signage, and landscaping.  

The Happisburgh Parish Council has been successfully managing the current car park and associated community infrastructure. This has allowed them to invest in local infrastructure, support local jobs, and set aside funds to support coastal management actions. In the long term, the Parish Council will continue to enable funds to be directed towards local projects to support the vitality of the village and continue to raise ongoing funds to support local coastal management.

Cllr Harry Blathwayt, portfolio holder for Coast, said:  

"I am pleased this work is being carried out now as a timely intervention prior to the erosion that will make access to the existing car park too difficult. The Parish Council deserve praise for their foresight in helping make this happen for the benefit of the parishioners and visitors of Happisburgh."

This project is funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programmes will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.  

Find out more about the Coastwise project at www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/coastwise