A trial has begun in West Cornwall to see whether the next generation of sea defences can also help protect sealife.

Special blocks began arriving in Newlyn on Wednesday and these will be installed over the coming weeks.

It is part of the next stage of a project re-thinking traditional rock concrete defences, to not only manage the risks of flooding and coastal erosion but also increase biodiversity.

As such, low-carbon concrete blocks – known as ‘eco-blocks’ are being brought to Newlyn to see how they perform under real-life conditions.

The blocks not only provide a sea defence but also act as a habitat for marine life, due to be made of materials that match the natural pH of seawater and incorporating features that replicate rockpools and the crevices found in shoreline rock.

They are now being trialled to see how they perform in an environment with high wave energy.

The Environment Agency (EA) said: “This is a research and development project that will investigate the use of eco-blocks as a potential material to be used in future schemes.

“Specifically, the project will monitor the eco-block’s ability to enhance biodiversity and withstand a high-energy environment, as well as the effect of block size and orientation. The project will not seek to reduce flood or coastal erosion risk.”

The eco-blocks are being placed on and around the existing rock armour breakwater at Newlyn and the findings will feed directly back into future projects within Mount’s Bay and elsewhere.

The EA has already been monitoring a trial of small-scale eco-blocks during a preliminary phase of the project. These have been placed at the mouth of the Newlyn Coombe River, with the EA saying that after two years in position they are showing “encouraging signs of colonisation” by marine life.

Falmouth Packet: A small, trial eco-block, 20 months after being deployedA small, trial eco-block, 20 months after being deployed (Image: Environment Agency)

Around 90 blocks, each around 1.3 metres long, are now being placed around the existing breakwater, both on land and the seaward sides, as well as on top. This will allow the agency to compare how colonisation varies depending on the amount of wave energy.

Deliveries of the blocks to Newlyn Green took place between Wednesday and Friday this week, with installation beginning on Friday.

More will be delivered and installed this Monday to Friday, with further deliveries the following Monday and Tuesday, although there will be no work on the foreshore.

During the construction period there will be short, 15-minute closures of the South West Coast Path whilst the EA accesses the beach from Newlyn Green.

Access to Newlyn Art Gallery will remain open throughout the work and all machinery and equipment will be removed from the beach at the end of each working window.

“We will reinstate the area used for the site compound upon completion and have been working with Cornwall Council and Newlyn Art Gallery on plans to minimise disruption from the works,” added the EA.

Deliveries to the compound at Newlyn Green will take place every weekday morning, avoiding peak commuting and school drop-off times.

Work to install the eco-blocks will take place on weekdays between 7am and 7pm, around low tides.