Update April 2008
In line with our advice to it last February, Government announced in September that it plans to legislate to give Natural England new powers to improve access around the whole English coastline. These powers are included in the draft Marine Bill, which was published on 3rd April 2008 to allow scrutiny by MPs and Peers before it is put before Parliament.
We have worked closely with Defra on the content of the draft Marine Bill. In parallel we have published our Coastal Access Outline Scheme 
[1.4 MB] which will guide decisions at the local level on improving and managing coastal access.
Coastal Access for all
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs asked Natural England to look at how best to improve access to coastal land in England, with an overall aim of creating an onward journey on foot.
As well as increasing people's enjoyment and understanding of this environment, the aim is to also bring improvements to wildlife and the landscape.
Natural England looked at the appropriateness of a number of suggested outcomes, and the best means of delivering them. A detailed programme of research and investigation into the underlying facts has been undertaken, see: