The high-profile Swansea Council project to strengthen and improve the Mumbles sea defences has reached a new milestone.

Contractors have put in the place the first large-scale concrete panels that form the new surface of the wall’s 500m-long vertical section.

By the end of the project next year (note: 2024) there’ll be almost 100 of the panels side by side, each measuring 5m long by 4.5m tall.

The panels will stretch from prom level down to the beach and from north of Oystermouth Square car park to around Mumbles Bowling Club. Some will have a low wall on top, designed to return waves, although the northern end of the prom is high enough not to need this added protection.

The panels’ textured surfaces – designed as part of a Swansea University project to encourage healthy sea life – are being created with a specially commissioned large-scale mould. The panels are made of special maritime concrete which is poured into the mould on site; each one is reinforced by an internal steel cage.

Council cabinet member Andrew Stevens said:

“The casting of the first panels is a significant milestone for this project.

“They cover the sea defences’ old vertical section and will protect the community for many decades to come and – thanks to the attractively textured finish – encouraging biodiversity.

“Complex surface structures enable diverse marine and coastal species to settle. In time, the panels will be colonised by seaweeds, barnacles and other creatures.

“Work is also underway to form the sloping wall from the bowling green towards Verdi’s.

“As we’re raising and strengthening the sea wall we’re also working with Knights Brown on improving the defences at prom level, creating attractive low stone walls as a secondary line of defence.

“In due course as part of this project we’ll upgrade the sloping area of the wall. In the Southend Gardens area, we’ll put in place secondary defences in the form of grassed embankments.

“There’ll be lots of greenery along the new sea defences and no loss of trees. The work will provide an opportunity to improve other parts of the prom area. Hundreds of parking spaces will remain close to the Mumbles seafront.

“The work will allow us to protect homes, businesses, organisations and events from storms and rising sea levels for many years to come.

“We thank everybody in the local community, including businesses, and visitors to Mumbles for their understanding at this time of change.

“Our contractors continue to do all they can to minimise disruption.”

Knights Brown divisional director Andrew Eilbeck said:

“Our Mumbles team continues to work hard on delivering this fantastic improvement and will continue to do so through the wintry weather and beyond.

“We thank the whole community for their positive reaction and encouragement they continue to give us.”

Homes and businesses around Mumbles prom are increasingly threatened by rising sea levels brought about by climate change.

Due to their age and erosion, the defences became tired and worn. For many years the council has undertaken frequent repairs.

The coastal defence project will strengthen the defences along the prom for a distance of around 1.2km.

It’s being delivered by Knights Brown on behalf of the council. It’s largely funded by the Welsh Government.

The thoughts of the public, business and others have helped to shape the project – and continue to do so.

Slipways and beach access stairs will be upgraded; these support the prom, providing leisure opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists, residents and visitors.

During the work, prom diversions are in place to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.

To help keep the public informed the project team holds regular drop-in sessions in Mumbles, has put up notice boards on the prom and issues regular newsletters.