Balfour Beatty completes £26m coastal defences job
Delivered in Prestatyn by the contractor for Denbighshire County Council, the flood protection works have been finished nine months ahead of schedule.
The flood defence scheme includes a new embankment to store storm surge waters and reduce the risk of them reaching Prestatyn town centre. It will safeguard 2,297 homes and 86 businesses from the increasing threat of storm surges and rising sea levels.
Stakeholders marked the completion last week. Credit: Welsh Government
Deputy first minister, with responsibility for climate change and rural affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “These works will keep people safe and benefit the community for years to come. This is a great example of the local authority taking initiative and implementing a scheme which reduces the future risk of flooding.
“I am keenly aware of the devastating impact flooding can have on homes, livelihoods and people’s lives.
“Safeguarding our communities from the catastrophic results of flooding and coastal erosion is of utmost importance to me in this role, and for this Government.
“We are committed to delivering support on the ground that will protect our communities from the threats of climate change.”
- BOOK NOW: Sustainability in Practice 2025
The project features a new flood embankment set back from the existing seafront defence, surrounding Rhyl Golf Course and running adjacent to Rhyl Coast Road.
Additional protective measures include new rock armour at the western end of the scheme, providing erosion protection around the slipway, along with improvements to existing culverts and construction of two new outfall structures.
Climate change and rising sea levels have increased flooding risks along this stretch of coastline, with nearly 500 properties previously flooded during storm events in nearby east Rhyl.
Balfour Beatty landed the work from DCC, along with a larger project in Rhyl, in 2023.
The Welsh Government provided 85% (£22.2m) of the construction funding through its £291m Coastal Risk Management Programme, with Denbighshire stumping up the remaining 15%.
The Welsh Government also fully funded the £1.75m development phase. The CRMP covers 15 projects around Wales.
Cllr Barry Mellor, DCC lead member for environment and transport, said: “Having witnessed the devastating effects of the coastal flooding which hit Rhyl on December 5, 2013, this work is particularly close to my heart.
“The council opened Rhyl Leisure Centre at that time as an evacuation centre due to the severe flooding, and the sight of my residents coming in soaking wet clinging to their loved animals will never leave me.
“I still have residents coming up to me to this day saying how grateful they are as they now can sleep at night without having to worry about their homes flooding, so I’m so pleased to see the completion of this part of the project which will now give peace of mind to the residents of Prestatyn.”
The defence works near the golf course as completion neared. Credit: Denbighshire CC
