The Environment Agency has successfully completed coastal flood defence works at Minehead seafront, delivering greater protection for 355 properties and businesses in the town.
The project, costing just under £1 million, extended existing rock armour to the east of the town, near Butlins and Minehead Golf Course, and was delivered on time and on budget. Works began in spring 2026 and have now been completed ahead of summer.
Just under 4,000 tonnes of pink granite rock armour, sourced from near Bodmin, Cornwall, was used to strengthen defences across 100 metres of a vulnerable shingle ridge at the Warren. Materials were transported by road, requiring approximately 250 lorry movements during the construction period.
Why this work was needed
Works began in spring 2026 and have now been completed ahead of summer
Minehead’s Eastern Esplanade is protected from coastal flooding by a natural shingle ridge. However, this ridge is vulnerable to erosion from winter storms, and rock armour has previously been used to reinforce it. Parts of the town are particularly at risk during north-westerly storms and high tides.
This scheme follows the successful completion of coastal defence works in 2023, when 14,500 tonnes of granite rock armour reinforced Minehead’s sea wall. Erosion to the sand face at the end of the existing rock armour section made this next phase necessary. The works will also indirectly help to reduce the impact of flash flooding in the area.
The West Somerset Coast Path, part of the England Coast Path connecting Minehead and Dunster, has now been reopened following completion of the works, securing access for walkers and visitors long into the future.
The town benefits from an extensive coastal defence scheme maintained by the Environment Agency, including vital annual maintenance such as beach reprofiling. Environment Agency flood mapping shows that the risk of coastal flooding is expected to increase due to climate change, making continued investment essential.
Bert Leach, operations advisor at the Environment Agency, said:
I’m delighted that we’ve been able to deliver this project on time and on budget.
We’re confident these defences will keep Minehead protected well into the future. We’re grateful to everyone for their patience and support during construction.
Ben Parker of Minehead Town Council said:
This is a fantastic outcome for Minehead. The response from our community has been overwhelmingly positive.
These defences give residents and businesses real confidence that Minehead is well protected against coastal flooding, both now and in the years ahead.
The Environment Agency will continue to carry out annual maintenance, including beach reprofiling, to ensure Minehead’s coastal defences remain in good condition.
Background
- The 2023 Minehead coastal defence scheme reinforced the sea wall with 14,500 tonnes of granite rock armour.
- The works were announced in March 2026 and completed in May 2026.
