Since the series of Winter Storms across Start Bay, the Slapton Line Partnership has received a huge number of questions about the damage caused, the next steps and, plans for recovery.

We’ve listed these below, but know there are also many more. If you have a question you can’t see below email it to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to find you an answer.

There are also FAQs answered by Caroline Voaden MP available on her website here.

QUESTION: Why are you spending the money to defend Torcross rather than on the road which would benefit more people?

Answered By: Environment Agency

Funding comes from completely different sources and purposes and aligns with very different organisational responsibilities. The money we have secured to strengthen the Torcross sea defences is coming out of the Environment Agency’s Investment Programme, which is provided by Government via the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Afairs (Defra) specifically for maintaining or improving flood defences to communities around England. It is not additional funding but has been secured from within the EA’s existing Programme budget.

The road falls under the responsibility of Devon County Council, as the Highways Authority. The Council has declared that it cannot afford to reinstate it from within its existing budgets and has therefore made a special bid to the Department of Transport (DfT) for additional funding.

Each case also needs to be assessed in terms of economic justification, environmental impact and sustainability etc separately and on its individual merits. So, whilst for residents and users there is an understandable commonality, from a funding and decision-making perspective Torcross and the road are essentially separate issues.

QUESTION: The shingle has already started to come back so why do we need rock armour?

Answered By: Environment Agency

We know that beach levels at Torcross naturally fluctuate. Detailed work over many years by the University of Plymouth show that (in broad terms) whilst southerly winds remove shingle from the Torcross end of Slapton Sands, easterly winds bring it back – and this is exactly what has happened recently.

Moreover, the events of December and January showed just how quickly significant beach loss can occur during periods of high energy storms. The beach levels at Torcross dropped by over 2m to their lowest levels on record – in as many weeks. This was the fundamental cause of the devastating impacts.

We cannot predict when this might happen again, but we believe that it is likely that it will – and we have seen the effects that that can have. The prevailing weather is southerly and the overall long-term trend at Torcross is one of beach lowering.

The rationale for the project is therefore to mitigate for this (current or future) beach loss by placing rock armour at the toe of the sea defences. If beach levels are naturally high then the rock may just be fully or partially covered in shingle. However, if beach levels are naturally low, then the rock armour will be there to absorb much of the energy of the breaking waves and cover the toe piles that would otherwise be exposed.

Finally, we have worked very hard to secure the funding for the project, and to mobilise a project so quickly. We have compressed work that we would normally undertake over many years into a matter of months. We have successfully managed to do so only because we have argued that the extent of damages sustained by the community and the risk that it could happen again next winter justifies an extra-ordinary and urgent response. It does feel like a ‘take it or leave it’ opportunity that is unlikely to be repeated.

QUESTION: How will people access the sea once rock armour is deployed? Can the rock armour be designed in such a way as to maintain a beach at Torcross?

Answered By: Environment Agency

For obvious safety reasons we don’t want to encourage people to be climbing over the rock armour, so the Environment Agency are not incorporating access steps through the rock armour in the design.

However, it is recognised that beach/sea access is a very important part of Torcross and Slapton Sands. The EA are therefore aiming to extend the existing steps at the southern end and to extend the slipway at the northern end to facilitate access if/when beach levels permit.

It may be that the natural processes will at times result in shingle partially or fully covering the rock armour. But we recognise that at other times – when shingle levels are low – the beach in front of the sea defences will effectively be replaced by rock.

QUESTION: How long will the rock armour last?

Answered By: Environment Agency

The rock itself will last indefinitely, however the design life of the ‘rock armour design’ has been set to the year 2060. This broadly aligns with the anticipated change in coastal management policy set out in the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), from “Hold the Line” to “Managed Realignment” which is nominally in 2055.

A key factor in the engineering design of the rock armour is estimating future beach levels. If beach levels drop, the toe of the rock armour will also drop and the section will settle and rotate, becoming steeper. If it becomes too steep it will be at risk of losing its structural integrity and falling apart during high energy storms. Also, as beach levels drop, breaking wave energy at the defences will increase making this more likely.

Slapton Sands benefits from being one of the most surveyed and studied beaches in the UK. Our Coastal Monitoring programme and the University of Plymouth have both been carrying out regular beach level surveys since 2007, so there are very good historical datasets. The Environment Agency have undertaken a detailed statistical analysis of that record and the long term trends it shows. As a result, it is predicted that by 2060 average beach levels at Torcross may be 3m lower than they are today (at which point the beach at the toe of the existing sea defences will be almost permanently submerged at all states of the tide).

The design is therefore based on that assumption – and makes allowance for 3m of future beach lowering and the gradual rotation and settlement of the rock armour section that would be expected to occur as a result.

This of course is an estimate-based design assumption. The vagaries of future weather events and climate change impacts, and their effects on Torcross’s very dynamic coastal geomorphology are impossible to predict with certainty. But the Environment Agency have taken a rational and evidence-based approach which gives them confidence that the rock armour will remain effective without the need for significant maintenance for several decades at least.

QUESTION: Is the EA still on track to deliver the proposed scheme in time for next winter? When will you know for certain if/when it will start?

Answered By: Environment Agency

We are still on track to substantially deliver the scheme in 2026. At the moment our programme shows Kier mobilising on site in mid-August with a first delivery of rock in mid-September and a final delivery in early January. This is however based on a number of key planning assumptions in particular relating to rock delivery and consents.

Rock deliveries will be dictated by when the specialist marine plant and shipping is available. This is still to be confirmed, but we have contracted Kier early to enable them to book the necessary plant and shipping, and we hope to have a clearer picture on this by the end of the month.

The other critical programme factor relates to consents and licences. The site lies within the Slapton Ley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the South Devon National Character Area, and close to the Skerries Banks and Surrounds Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). We need to demonstrate to statutory consultees Natural England (NE), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Local Planning Authority (LPA) that we are not going to cause significant environmental damage, and we will need to obtain a MMO Licence. This involves us making various environmental assessments to submit to the statutory consultees, who need time to properly review and evaluate them.

This work – and supporting discussions with NE, MMO and the LPA – is well underway but will take some time to conclude and the outcome is not a certainty. If there are significant objections to our proposals, or if further – more detailed – environmental impact assessment work is deemed to be necessary, then it is very unlikely that we will be able to undertake the scheme this year.

Our programme assumption is that all necessary consents will be in place by mid August – giving us the green light to proceed with construction. However, at this point in time, consents are probably the key delivery risk and are something we are monitoring very closely.

QUESTION: Is there a back-up plan for the wall if the works are delayed or cannot be completed?

Answered By: Environment Agency

At the moment all our energies are focused on trying to deliver the proposed project in 2026. We have successfully cleared several of the key hurdles involved, including getting business case approval, securing funding, and appointing and mobilising a project team – all at great pace.

Nevertheless, there are some critical hurdles we still need to clear – in particular obtaining the necessary statutory consents and permissions and securing specialist shipping. These could delay (or even theoretically prevent) delivery, and whilst we are trying to actively manage these, they are not fully in our control.

If any of these risks does materialise and prevent or delay the project, then we will consider what alternative or contingency plans might be possible in the circumstances at that point in time.

QUESTION: What will happen to the Car Park?

Answered By: Environment Agency

The situation at the car park is a bit more complicated than elsewhere. This is partly because the Environment Agency (promoting the Torcross defences project), Devon County Council (the Highways Authority responsible for the road) and South Hams District Council (the Coastal Protection Authority and Car Park lease holder) all have overlapping interests; and partly because whilst the EA project is progressing at an accelerated pace, whilst the position of DCC’s bid to Government for funding to repair the road at this point remains unclear.

However, EA, DCC and SHDC are all agreed of the importance to the community of the car park and therefore of the need to reinstate the defence in front of it – regardless of what happens with the A379. We are working collaboratively to overcome the complications, and the EA has included reinstatement of the car park defence in our design – whilst we work out the details.

QUESTION: Can the defensive gates in the sea wall be opened/altered/improved? Currently they trap shingle and water on the landward side?

Answered By: Environment Agency

The gates were installed for public safety reasons – to discourage people from accessing the revetment when beach levels were low and there is a risk of falling off.

A a significant vertical edge at the toe piles, or when storm waves are breaking on/over the revetment. There are regular drainage holes through the sea defences, and we are not convinced that modifying the gates would make a huge difference in this regard – but would welcome any photo’s etc that would indicate otherwise, and we will keep this under review.

QUESTION: Can the Slipway be reopened ahead of EA works if sufficient shingle has returned?

Answered By: Environment Agency

The safety fencing was erected by Devon County Council following the storm damage, and if beach levels make it safe then DCC have confirmed they are happy to remove it.

QUESTION: What is the latest update about the road?

Answered By: Devon County Council

We know how important the Slapton line is to local people and businesses. Rebuilding the road is a complex and costly challenge, and we will need government support to make it happen.  We, and our partners, have been assessing the damage and considering short term and longer-term options, and we are preparing a bid for funding from government to reinstate the road.

QUESTION: When do you expect to hear from the Government?

Answered By: Devon County Council

The government has not indicated when it might make any decision.

QUESTION: Can the Council commit to reinstating the road?

Answered By: Devon County Council

It’s certainly our aim, and we are fully committed to doing everything in our power to make it happen. However, we need government funding to pay for the work.

QUESTION: What has the Council been doing to persuade Government to provide the necessary funding?

Answered By: Devon County Council

We’ve been lobbying government for financial support. The council’s Leader, Councillor Julian Brazil, has spoken directly to Ministers at Westminster to make the case for funding. We’re also working with our Devon MPs, including our local MP, Caroline Voaden, to put forward a strong case to reinstate the road.

QUESTION: What else has the Council been doing?

Answered By: Devon County Council

We have put extra funding from our budget into highways this year, including money for emergency work to help protect parts of the coastline in Slapton. We’re now in the summer months, when hopefully there’s less risk of stormy weather, but following those initial storms and loss of the road, we have been shoring up and protecting the foundation of the road as best we can to reduce further deterioration of the road.

We have also improved signage on the diversion route to make it easier for road users.

And to keep communities connected, we have kept public transport running with diverted bus routes, a new shuttle service, and free taxis where needed.

The Timetable for the 93T Slapton Link Summer Service can be found here

QUESTION: What longer-term improvements are planned for inland diversion routes?

Answered By: Devon County Council

We are working on a significant scheme to improve and increase passing opportunities on inland routes.

These will not be identified or signed as ‘alternative routes’ for traffic that would otherwise have used the Slapton Line, but we do recognise that these routes will be subject to higher traffic volumes as a result of the current absence of the Slapton Line.

We are liaising closely with the Slapton Line Partnership and local representatives to select and prioritise sites and delivery of this work is anticipated to begin in the current financial year.

We also recognise the need to be sensitive in terms of the timings of these works and will be keeping local communities informed ahead of work starting.

QUESTION: What support is the Council giving to local businesses?

Answered By: Devon County Council

We recognise that the closure of the A379 has had a significant impact on local businesses, particularly those reliant on visitor footfall, passing trade, deliveries and staff access. We also understand the uncertainty this has created for many businesses across the area.

We are continuing to work with South Hams District Council, local partners and business representatives to understand the ongoing impacts and identify where practical support can be provided. This includes maintaining access to communities via diversion routes, supporting continued public transport connections, and ensuring that businesses remain accessible to residents and visitors.

We are also working with partners to ensure clear public messaging that local communities and businesses remain open and can still be reached, despite the closure of the road.

While there is currently no dedicated government compensation scheme in place for businesses affected by the closure, we continue to raise the wider economic impacts of the disruption as part of ongoing discussions with government regarding the future of the route and the support required for local communities.

Businesses seeking advice or support are encouraged to contact South Hams District Council or the Devon Growth Hub, who may be able to provide information on business support, grants, advice and resilience planning.

QUESTION: How is the nature and wildlife of Slapton Ley being protected?

Answered By: Devon County Council

Slapton Ley is being protected by letting nature do its thing, not by trying to control it. Natural England and other organisations look after the area and study it closely. They use research and evidence to decide what’s best.

The coast at Slapton is always changing because of wind, waves and changing sea levels – and this is why the Site of Special Scientific Interest has been designated. These changes create the habitats that plants and animals need.

Instead of trying to stop these changes, Natural England is allowing the landscape to slowly adapt over time. This helps wildlife adjust and survive.

Right now, experts are monitoring the current problems, like pollution in the water and the risk of the sea breaking through the beach, and planning what might happen next.

Different groups work together through the Slapton Line Partnership to make decisions that protect wildlife while also thinking about local people and roads.

QUESTION: How will residents and businesses continue to receive updates?

Answered By: Devon County Council

We will continue to work as a member of the Slapton Line Partnership to keep these FAQs updated as we know more and will endeavour to use direct channels of communication with local communities to keep them informed of progress.