Norwegian rocks could be shipped in to defend town

To safeguard a town's sea wall, approximately 10,000 tonnes of rock may be transported roughly 600 miles (950km) across the North Sea to the English coast.

The King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council announced the necessity to reinforce sea defenses along the Hunstanton promenade due to detected cracks. The plan involves shipping granite rock armour from Norway to King's Lynn, then transporting it by land up the coast to Hunstanton.

This will serve as a temporary measure until a larger £40m project to repair the sea wall is completed. The wall is currently more vulnerable as changing tides are eroding the sand, exposing the metal foundations of parts of the structure. Hunstanton draws thousands of visitors annually.

Dave Robson, the council's environmental health manager, stated that the sea wall is at risk of sliding and slumping, and without intervention, it could fail. He added, "We have caught it early enough to prevent it collapsing."

Once installed, the new rock armour will be approximately 200m (650ft) long and 9m (29ft) wide, with each three-tonne rock being roughly the size of a family car. Delivery is anticipated from Norway to King's Lynn port, as the water is too shallow for direct delivery to Hunstanton's seafront, which overlooks the vast Wash estuary. The armour will be positioned in front of the sea wall, near the amusement area and where the pier once stood.

Norwegian rocks are the likely source due to Norway being a primary supplier of the required material. Work is slated to commence next year, pending the acquisition of necessary licenses and planning permission. The project could take up to 12 weeks to complete and will be funded by Community Infrastructure Levy money—funds from developers as part of housing projects—and the council's capital budget.

Sandra Squire, cabinet member for environment at the Independent-controlled authority, assured that any disruption to businesses along the promenade would be minimal, as the rock armour will be installed during the off-season. The promenade will also remain accessible.

This initiative follows a large sinkhole that appeared on the promenade in February, costing £100,000 to repair. Last year, it was announced that parts of Hunstanton's sea wall foundations had become exposed and damaged. The council also indicated that over 300 concrete slabs on the promenade might need replacement. Surveys revealed that routine repairs to existing coastal defenses were insufficient, as some structures had reached the end of their designed lifespan and required replacement.

Funding for the promenade repairs, which could amount to £40m, is yet to be secured from the government. Construction work is hoped to begin by 2028.