The second phase of intrusive ground investigations for the Ventnor Coastal Defence Scheme is scheduled to begin during the week commencing 14 September 2026. The work is a critical step in a long-term project to refurbish 3.6km of coastal defences, intended to protect the town from erosion and landslips for the next 60 years.
Led by the Environment Agency in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council, this stage of the project involves drilling boreholes along the seafront to identify hidden sub-surface voids and digging trial pits on the foreshore. These investigations are expected to take between three and six weeks to complete.
Promenade closures and access
While much of the seafront will remain accessible, specific sections of the Bonchurch Cliffs Promenade will be subject to temporary closures. These are planned to take place on weekdays between 8am and 6pm from late September through to November.
Access to the promenade is expected to be maintained during evenings and at weekends.
Public drop-in sessions
A project compound has been established near the Eastern Esplanade car park, which will serve as a hub for the investigation team. To keep the community informed, the project team will host regular public drop-in sessions at this location.
Starting from 29 September, these sessions will run every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 2pm. Residents and visitors are invited to visit the compound to ask questions about the current ground investigations or the wider coastal defence strategy. Further details on the project’s progress can be found via the Isle of Wight County Press, which has monitored the scheme’s development.
Long-term timeline
The current investigations are part of a multi-year preparatory phase.
Under the current programme, major construction work is not expected to begin until 2030. This timeline allows for the complex engineering requirements of the Ventnor coastline to be fully addressed, ensuring the new defences are robust enough to withstand the predicted environmental pressures of the coming decades.