Extension to popular Shoreham Beach boardwalk on track

Plans to extend the popular Shoreham Beach boardwalk and make more of the coast accessible to all have moved a step closer.

Adur District Council installed the first section of the walkway in 2011 to allow those with limited mobility and pushchairs a chance to explore the town’s environmentally-protected shoreline.

The third phase of the boardwalk, from The Burrells roundabout to Shoreham Fort, opened last year and extended the route to more than a mile in length.

Now, the Council is working on phase four - with £100,000 plans afoot to lay a new stretch along the existing established shingle footpath from Ferry Road towards Beach Green.

Councillor David Simmons, Adur District Council’s Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing, said: “Since the first section was installed in 2011, the Shoreham Beach boardwalk has become a real attraction for locals and visitors, ensuring that this unique stretch of coastline is accessible to all.

“I’m delighted we can now move forward with phase four of the scheme, which will open up more of this public beach to people in wheelchairs, with pushchairs and of limited mobility.”

Councillor Emma Evans, Adur District Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “Shoreham Beach is an extremely special place with a unique habitat and amazing natural vistas.

“By using modern materials sympathetic to the area's conservation status, the boardwalk not only allows more people to access this special stretch of shoreline but also ensures the protected vegetation is not damaged by people trampling over it.” 

The extension, which runs on land owned by the Council, will follow the existing path on the shingle to link the current walkway at Ferry Road to Beach Green.

Work will take place under permitted development rights which means planning permission is not needed.

Letters informing residents of nearby properties of the proposed route were issued last week.

A tender for companies to carry out the work will soon be issued with teams starting construction in the autumn.

The boardwalk scheme has had the support of a range of partners including West Sussex County Council, Environment Agency, Shoreham Port, Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association and the Friends of Shoreham Beach.