Lowestoft Ness
to Felixstowe Landguard Point
A Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is a large-scale
assessment of the risks associated with coastal processes which seeks
to reduce these risks to people and the developed, historic and natural
environments. An SMP determines the natural forces which are shaping
the shoreline to assess how it is likely to change over the next 100
years, taking account of the condition of existing defences. The SMP
develops policies outlining how the shoreline should be managed in the
future, balancing the scale of the risks with the social, environmental
and financial costs involved, and avoiding adverse impacts on adjacent
coastal areas.
The preparation of an SMP is the responsibility of the operating authorities
responsible for managing the coastline. In Suffolk these organisations
are Suffolk Coastal District Council, Waveney District, British Energy
and the Environment Agency – in association with Natural England
and Suffolk County Council.:
The first generation Shoreline Management Plan for the Suffolk coastline,
between Lowestoft and Felixstowe, was completed in 1998, covering a
length of coastline of approximately 72 km. This SMP is now being reviewed
by Royal Haskoning UK Ltd for Suffolk Coastal District Council as lead
authority for the operating authorities. Terry Oakes Associates Ltd
is project managing the development of the new SMP on behalf of SCDC.
The review will be undertaken fully in accordance with and follow
the methods set out in the Government’s publication “Shoreline
Management Plans Guidance, Volumes 1 and 2. March 2006” (available
here).
The review started in July 2008. The first new draft management policies
are already posted on this website. These will be reviewed and updated
in advance of the three month public consultation on the proposals in
summer 2009. A series of public exhibitions will offer all residents,
stakeholders and other organisations the opportunity to view the draft
policies, to talk to the people involved in the development of the draft
SMP and to contribute their views before the final policies are formulated.
The final document will be available later in 2009/2010.
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