Coastal projects
Coastal defence project - Aberavon Seafront
Before 2016, the Aberavon Seafront was identified as somewhere that needed urgent repairs to protect against floods and storms. The area has seen a lot of recent development, including:
- a new cinema
- Aberavon Leisure Centre
- various restaurants and cafés
These businesses and nearby residential areas were identified as flood risk areas under NPTCBC's Local Development Plan (LDP).
A regeneration scheme under the Coastal Risk Management Plan (CRMP) was developed to build a new slipway access track and upgrade coastal defences along 2.5 km of Aberavon Seafront.
The scheme was completed in 2020 and you can view some photos below.
Before
After
Construction photos at Aberavon Leisure Centre and the new slipway at Scarlet Avenue car park.
Benefits to the area
The benefits to the area include:
- improved flood and coastal erosion defences at Aberavon Promenade
- reduced the risk of flooding in Baglan Moors, Sandfields, and Aberavon
- better management of erosion in the future
- increased potential for further development
- contributed to the economic growth of the local area
The total cost of the scheme was £3.36 million, with 75% funded by Welsh Government and 25% by NPTCBC.
Future work
Coastal defence projects can be challenging to manage due to climate change and erosion. Therefore, inspections are done twice a year to check for damages on:
- the slipway
- embankments
- revetments
- concrete steps
Additional Marram grass was planted near the new slipway entrance in the summer of 2024 to help stabilize the banks by holding the sand in place.