PROJECT OVERVIEW
Skegness Gateway is a transformational urban extension to the west of Skegness, covering approximately 136 hectares and planned to deliver around 1,000 new homes alongside schools, commercial and business space, and assisted living accommodation.
CREATE’S ROLE
Over a five-year period, we provided civil and drainage engineering, specialist water management and flood risk consultancy to support landowners Croftmarsh in unlocking this strategically important site for future development.
Our objective was to deliver a robust, evidence-based assessment of flood risk to both the site and surrounding areas, enabling the scheme to progress safely and sustainably. Early in the project we carried out a detailed Flood Risk Assessment and developed an integrated approach to manage surface water runoff, before modelling multiple breach scenarios to better understand how floodwaters would behave under extreme events, informing the masterplan and design levels. At the design stage, the information we had gathered was used to inform the drainage strategy within the emerging masterplan and the detailed design of sustainable surface water management features, including attenuation basins and flow control structures.
Our roles, technical services and outputs included:
- Surface Water Drainage Strategy
- Hydraulic Modelling (Tidal Breach and Overtopping)
- Flood Risk Assessment
- Evacuation and Access Modelling
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Technical Evidence to support the Local Development Order (LDO)
- Surface Water Management and Storage Optimisation
- Drainage Design
CHALLENGES
The Gateway site lies within an area influenced by complex coastal flood dynamics associated with both breach and overtopping. This required detailed hydraulic modelling, careful masterplanning and the development of a comprehensive mitigation strategy to ensure that development could proceed safely, sustainably, and without increasing flood risk to surrounding communities.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND BENEFITS
Our long-term collaboration with Croftmarsh, East Lindsey District Council (ELDC), and the Environment Agency (EA) enabled us to develop a deep understanding of local conditions and deliver truly innovative, site-specific flood risk solutions. This work has contributed positively to long-term coastal flood resilience, whilst unlocking the site for much-needed mixed-use development.
The project was formally adopted through a LDO by ELDC in 2025, marking a critical milestone in enabling the regeneration of Skegness and supporting sustainable economic growth across the wider area.
TESTIMONIAL
“Developing the Skegness Gateway project has been a great challenge, however with Create’s technical knowledge, determination, and skills, we have achieved our early objectives and aspirations. The experience of working alongside Create’s team has been nothing short of exceptional. I have no doubts that the services and attention they have provided us shall continue as we progress to the next stage. Their strategic and technical guidance has allowed us to review the area and clearly define a strategy to manage and mitigate flooding, ensuring we were able to present East Lindsey District Council with a truly viable scheme that we hope will bring a new lease of life to Skegness and help maintain its coastal economy for decades to come..”
Stuart Robinson, Project Director at Croftmarsh
