Copeland Council is seeking £150,000 to install sea defences protecting homes in St Bees at risk of being lost in the next 50 years due to coastal erosion.

The authority wants to install rock armour at Seamill as an extension of Network Rail’s works to protect the railway line, a key Sellafield link which has suffered several landslides.

A recent inspection by rail bosses from the arm’s length public body of the Department for Transport has found that “immediate works” need to be undertaken to ensure the safety of the line.

It also found that the Network Rail defences are “in poor condition” and that those protecting the properties have “effectively failed”.

A report set to be considered by Copeland Council’s executive next week recommends that the council seeks funding to extend the scope of the planned coastal protection works.

Failing to invest in defences at this time would result in a loss of £1.4m, which is what Network Rail is proposing to spend on the railway defence works.

If the council does not act soon, it could also make an estimated loss of £75,000 in efficiency savings, according to an officer’s report.

Under the plans, the scheme would be completed in the financial year 2019/20, with the council having to act now because it is “unlikely” that any scheme at Seamill would be delivered in the future if the opportunity to extend the Network Rail Scheme is not taken at this stage.

The Cumbria Coastal Strategy, due to be completed in December, has identified a scheme will be required “as soon as possible” as a result of “failing rock armour defences”.

A bid has been included in the council’s “six-year programme” for funding, with a need for Network Rail to undertake the works on behalf of the council.

Copeland does not have a duty to protect transport infrastructure from coastal erosion, which falls within the purview of Network Rail and Highways.

However, as the coast protection authority for Copeland, the authority is permitted to carry out works to protect property, with money for protection schemes available.

Leading councillors have been recommended to approve the receipt of £150,000 of Flood and Coastal Erosion Funding Grant in Aid funding, should it be offered to the council.

This will allow the council to extend the scope of proposed Network Rail coast protection works.

The executive has also been asked, subject to agreement being in place, to transfer the grant to Network Rail allowing it to undertake the additional work.