This blog has been written by The Flood Hub People.
Our coastlines naturally change over time as waves, tides and wind gradually remove material. Areas most at risk from coastal erosion are often low-lying, reclaimed or soft-sediment coastlines where the land is less able to resist these forces.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have national responsibility for policy on flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) policy in England. They provide funding for the risk management authorities (RMAs) so they can carry out their duties, including the management of our coastline.
Coastal RMAs include:
The Environment Agency estimate that ‘£1billion of investment will be required every year, for the next 50 years, to manage flooding and coastal change infrastructure in England’.
England has approximately 2,750 miles of coastline, with around 1,100 miles at risk of coastal erosion. More than 600 miles of coastal defences are already in place to protect communities, infrastructure and tourist areas. However, it will not be technically feasible or financially viable to protect every stretch of eroding coastline indefinitely.
There are currently hundreds of properties at risk from coastal erosion,and this is expected to rise into the tens of thousands over the coming decades. These projections take into account planned interventions outlined in Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs). Without these interventions, the number of vulnerable properties could reach 5,000 within 20 years, or 28,000 within 50 years.
Sea levels are also rising. Conservative estimates suggest an increase of 0.4–1 metre by the end of the century, although some researchers warn it could be significantly higher.
Coastal management requires different strategies depending on local geography, levels of risk, and environmental considerations. The four main approaches include:
Each approach must consider technical feasibility, cost, environmental impact and implications for local communities as part of the assessment of their viability.
Happisburgh, Norfolk
Happisburgh has become one of the most well-known examples of coastal erosion in the UK. The coastline here is made of soft sediment and clay, making it extremely vulnerable. Over the last 20 years, hundreds of metres of shoreline have been lost, and 35 homes have fallen to the sea. Despite this, there is no plan to defend the area, as the cost of protecting 1,400 residents and 600 properties is not considered viable.
This situation is mirrored in other communities such as Skipsea, Aldbrough and Ulrome in Yorkshire, and Hemsby in Norfolk.
Bacton, Norfolk
Just four miles away, however, a different approach has been taken. A £20 million sandscaping project moved and reprofiled 2 million m³ of sand to protect the Bacton gas terminal, a site of national importance, supplying up to one-third of the UK’s gas. The site owner is funding two-thirds of the project, with the government covering the remaining third. The scheme will also benefit nearby communities, including Bacton and Walcott.
Happisburgh and eroding cliffs cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Jim Whiteside – geograph.org.uk/p/76825
Fairhaven, Lancashire
At Fairhaven, a £22 million upgrade of sea defences was completed in 2020. These new structures replaced defences dating back to the late 19th century and will help protect around 3,400 properties for the next 100 years.
The area is also a popular tourist destination, supporting hundreds of jobs and generating millions in revenue.
Fairhaven Lake cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Alexander P Kapp – geograph.org.uk/p/3170423
As sea levels continue to rise and coastal erosion accelerates, the government has made it clear that not all areas can be defended indefinitely, if at all. Funding is more likely to be allocated to places of higher population, greater economic value, or critical national infrastructure.
For smaller coastal communities, particularly on the East and South East coasts, this poses difficult questions. In areas where no active intervention is planned, homeowners often feel abandoned. Many face the emotional and financial strain of losing their homes, navigating limited guidance and receiving no compensation or support for relocation or demolition.
To learn more about how our coastline is managed, take a look at our full resource here.
