Shoreline management project
Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) are non-statutory documents, which set out guidance to assist in sustainable coastal defence and flood management, for the next 100 years.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, Natural England is actively involved in the Flamborough Head to Gibraltar Point SMP.
The Holderness coast is one of the most rapidly eroding coastlines in England and is the most significant source of sediment for other coastlines further south. The Shoreline Management Plan aims to find a sustainable balance between protecting property and economic viability of the Holderness coast (such as retaining sandy beaches) with allowing some erosion to take place to provide sediment for coastlines further south such as the Humber Estuary and the Lincolnshire coast.
The Humber Estuary and parts of the Lincolnshire coast are designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and so they are legally protected under the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994.
Without careful coastal management, climate change and sea level rise will negatively affect the extent and condition of inter-tidal habitats in the Humber Estuary and Lincolnshire coast, which will, in turn, affect the integrity of flood defences which protect adjacent populations and nationally important industrial areas.
Natural England is working closely with the Environment Agency and other partners to protect the features for which these sites were designated and ensure that the SMPs will have no adverse effect on them.
Flamborough Head to Gibraltar Point Shoreline Management Plan
Natural England is working with North East Lincolnshire Council; East Lindsey District Council; Lincolnshire County Council; East Riding of Yorkshire Council; Environment Agency; English Heritage and the National Farmers Union to prepare an updated Shoreline Management Plan for the coast between Flamborough Head in Yorkshire and Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire (including the outer Humber Estuary).
The draft plan will be published in August 2009 and there will be opportunities to comment on it between August and October. The final plan will be completed by the end of 2009.
Visit the project website for further details on the Shoreline Management Plan
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