Work on the project along a 5km stretch of coastline started in June 2014 and will carry on throughout the summer and into autumn. It will start up again in spring 2015 with completion targeted for autumn 2015.

The project has been funded with £3 million each from Tendring District Council and Essex County Council, with an extra £1m expected from both authorities, which in turn unlocked a £27m grant from the Environment Agency's flood defence fund and £512,000 from the Government's growth fund.

The scheme has been hailed as a vital boost for regenerating the seafront as well as protecting more than 3,000 homes and commercial properties for the next 100 years.

It involves demolishing a number of existing timber and concrete groynes along the frontage and building 22 fishtail groynes and a terminal groyne in their place.
The plans also include a beach recharge of around 950,000 cubic metres of material with rocks being brought in by sea from Norway.

In summary, this coastal defence project comprises:

• removing the existing groyne fields throughout the site
• installing 22 No. fishtail rock groynes extending approximately 90m offshore
• reuse of the existing rock armour as part of the new fishtail rock groynes
• 950,000 m3 of shingle and sand recharge between Clacton Pier and Gunfleet Boating Club
• The fishtail groynes will include an access gap for plant between 7 to 15m at the end of the structure and the promenade to enable long term maintenance of the beach levels and assets on the beach.