Hampshire Coastal Change Pathfinder

Hampshire County Council received £254,000 to explore planning for and managing adaptation to coastal change for a 10 kilometre stretch of New Forest Coastline and Lepe Country Park.

Coastal change issues

Work undertaken by Hampshire County Council on planning for adaptation to climate change, has highlighted the risks of flooding and erosion due to sea level rise and increased storminess. These risks of coastal change are particularly pronounced for Lepe Country Park (an important community asset for leisure and tourism) and supporting infrastructure eg car park and footpath access to beach and site of D-Day preparations.

Summary of approach

• Community engagement: a key focus of this pathfinder project is working with all sectors of the community to involve them in developing a coastal adaptation plan for a 10km stretch of the coastline from Beaulieu River to Southampton Water and shared vision for Lepe, through workshops, meetings, “planning for real” exercises to embed stakeholder engagement throughout project.  Alongside this, an education and awareness raising programme is being developed.
• Adaptation planning: development of coastal adaptation plan and exploring feasibility of short-term adaptation solutions.
• Delivering adaptive solutions: delivering short term capital works such as measures to improve access (damaged by erosion) to the beach and the site of D-Day preparations, possibly by building a boardwalk.

Partners

New Forest National Park Authority, Environment Agency, Natural England, New Forest District Council, Hampshire Wildlife Trust.

Further information

• For information on the Shoreline Management Plan

Dorset Coastal Change Pathfinder

Dorset County Council received £376,500 to explore planning for, and managing, adaptation to coastal change on the ‘Jurassic Coast’. This includes the communities of Sidmouth, Charmouth, Seatown, Weymouth, Ringstead and Swanage.

Coastal change issues

Coastal change has shaped the ‘Jurassic Coast’ of East Devon and Dorset and its communities have historically experienced a mix of coastal erosion and flooding risks.  These risks are likely to be exacerbated by climate change which will add to the activity of change on a stretch of coast which is already characterised by dramatic and unpredictable landslides and other erosion impacts.

Summary of approach

• Community engagement: the overall aim of this pathfinder project is to ensure that coastal communities are well equipped to understand, debate and take part in decisions about coastal change, which will enable them to adapt and become more resilient to change. Site specific coastal change scenarios and a range of visual tools for engaging with and informing communities, are a key part of this. Networks of coastal change champions and facilitators, seminar series, education projects and work with local businesses and land owners, are all helping to inform and prepare communities for change
• Adaptation planning: development of a plan to help householders identify independent resilience activities they can carry out.  Consideration of how local spatial planning can best support adaptation to coastal change, together with delivery of “Change we can plan for?’ seminars.

Partners

Chideock Parish Council, Devon County Council, Devon Maritime Forum, Dorset AONB Partnership, Dorset Coast Forum, East Devon District Council, English Heritage, Environment Agency, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, National Trust, Natural England, Purbeck District Council, Ringstead Society, RSPB, Swanage Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Swanage Town Council, West Dorset District Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

Further information

• For information on the Shoreline Management Plan
• Dorset’s Pathfinder website