defence projects such as in Mumbles are needed

Each one is different and pressure on them is likely to grow, as Local democracy reporter

- Richard Youle reports

PENDING £210,000 of public money to defend a house from coastal flooding in an affluent area of Wales might normally raise an eyebrow or two, but the Mumbles seawall and promenade project does much more than that.

The £26.5m scheme is designed to protect 126 homes and businesses from rising sea levels for the next century, which works out £210,317 per property.

Contractor Knights Brown has also widened the promenade and topped it with a sandy-coloured resin, added seating, play areas and greenery. It feels more in keeping with what is a holiday destination.

Newly-planted rudbeckias wave in the breeze and the 1.2km stretch of new promenade is busy with people enjoying the summer holidays.

There has been disruption over the past two-plus years and there is more work to do although the project was officially opened last week by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who described it as magnificent.

Designing flood protection schemes is complicated and councils which submit bases cases for them to the Welsh Government are competing for a finite pot of money.

Doing nothing wasn’t an option in Mumbles, said Swansea council, which commissioned the project and contributed 15% of the cost.

"Despite ongoing maintenance the wall had fallen into in poor condition due to its age it dates back to the 19th century," said a council spokesman. "There were significant cracks, some exposed footings and the possibility that it could fail in a major storm. A main sewer runs beneath the prom, retained by the defences; failure of the seawall could harm the natural environment as well as homes and businesses.

"Without new sea defences the risk of flooding would have kept on rising. Homes, businesses, community facilities, council resources and tourism income for the area would have been at risk."

The authority evaluated various options and costs. An original scheme costing £14 million was superseded by the one in place now.