Shoreline Management Plan
What is a Shoreline Management Plan?
A Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is a high-level,
non-statutory, policy document planning the future management of
the coastline and coastal defences. It promotes management policies
into the 22nd century that achieve long term objectives without
committing future generations to unsustainable practices.
Why do we need Shoreline Management Plans?
The coastline is undergoing constant change from the natural
processes of waves, tides and winds. The amount of change depends
on the driving forces, such as storms and sea level rise, and
constraints imposed by geology and degree of human
intervention.
Whilst these changes continue, social, economic and
environmental pressures are increasing in coastal areas.
Development on the coast and within estuaries drives a need for
protection against coastal flooding and erosion. Building coastal
defences is increasingly expensive and places stress on coastal
recreation features and natural habitats that are often nationally
or internationally important.
Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
Much of the present shoreline of the UK has been shaped by sea
level rise following the last ice age. New studies show that sea
level rise is rapidly increasing again due to climate change. This
will result in significant changes to the coast, such as:
- Greater frequency of storms
- Increased wave heights
- Increased erosion
- Increased rainfall
- Increased fluvial flows
Increasing sea levels mean that coastal defences have to be
larger, costing more money to maintain and making the consequence
of a failure of defences more catastrophic to the people and places
they protect. These defences frequently prevent the movement of
coastal habitats, which can cause a problem called 'Coastal
Squeeze' where important wildlife habitat is lost under rising
water.
What does this mean?
The coastline is changing and it will not stay as it is. If we
continue to defend into the future as we have done in the past, the
result will be:
- Hard defended areas becoming headlands
- Loss of intertidal areas and beaches in front of defences
- Increased stress on the shoreline, where beaches are lost and
the coastline is more exposed to storms
- Increased flooding and erosion hazards
- The need for more substantial and expensive defences
This means we need a 100 year plan to co-ordinate how the coast
is managed and take the opportunity to get the best out of it.
Cell 11 Shoreline Management Plan
Recognising the need to review the existing SMP, Halcrow Group
Ltd have been commissioned to review and revise the SMP for the
North West of England and North Wales shoreline.
The SMP will set the policy for managing the coast. The Plan
will identify how the estuary and coastal shorelines would be best
managed over time to avoid negative effects (increased erosion and
flooding affecting people, property and the coastal environment)
and maximise the beneficial effects (better beaches, better
habitats, flood and coastal protection) of coastal management.
How to get involved
If you live near to, or have an interest in North West England
and North Wales coast, we invite you to have an input in the SMP
process.
If you would like to participate in the consultation for the
preparation of the revised Shoreline Management Plan for the North
West coast please contact:
Fiona Gregory
North West and North Wales Coastal Group
Blackpool Council
Westgate House
Squires Gate Lane
Blackpool
FY4 2TS
E-mail: smp2@mycoastline.org
Website: www.mycoastline.org