Overstrand Coastal Management Scheme

The Coastal Management Team are in the process of designing a scheme of engineering works to be completed at Overstrand.

Overstrand’s soft cliffs are protected at their toe by a sea wall, which also acts as a promenade. This sea wall comprises a series of integrated concrete defences that, as beach levels have eroded, have become significantly undermined in several places. As a result of the undermining, they have sustained at least two major (reflective) fractures from the top to the bottom of the wall. The steel sheet piles, which form the base of the seawall, have become severely degraded, and in places the sea has penetrated through the corroded sheets, beginning to undermine the structure above.

In line with the Shoreline Management Plan, NNDC will complete necessary repair works at the two locations that have been damaged to extend the life of this coastal protection asset.

We are now moving forward with a project to upgrade and repair the seawall. The first stage of the works will include the delivery of 500 steel sheet piles. To minimise disruption to Overstrand residents, these sheets will be offloaded at Runton Road car park in Cromer, before being transferred to Overstrand.

The first sheet piles will arrive in Cromer from Monday 22 June 2026. Later the same week, starting on Tuesday 23 June 2026, the sheet piles will be relocated to Overstand in suitable lorries that can be driven down the tarmacked beach access at Clifton Way into the site compound. This will take approximately 7 days to complete.

Once a contractor has been formally appointed, they will set up in the site compound at the bottom of Clifton Way. As further details are made available, information will be provided.

Please see below the Habitat Regulations Assessment and SSSI Impact Assessment. The Council has formally assessed the impacts and will be incorporating any mitigation measures necessary into the scheme.

Documents

• Habitat Regulations Assessment (PDF)
• SSSI Impact Assessment (PDF)