The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has the overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England. It relies upon Local Authorities (LAs) to then assist and manage their own coastlines and frontages.
LAs have permissive powers to carry out works to reduce the risk of coastal flooding and erosion. Whilst Coastal Partners has the ‘power' to carry out coastal protection works on behalf of the authorities it represents, it only does so where there is sufficient benefits to the public. We act when there is a clear economic benefit to developing coastal defence works, when there is an appropriate engineering solution that is achievable and where environment legislation is not contravened.
Private land owners have ultimate responsibility for protecting their own property from flooding and erosion and they must act within statutory planning regulations and other applicable legislation. For guidance please contact us at Coastal Partners
LAs often work with the Environment Agency (EA) and can seek Grant in Aid from the EA to undertake coastal management projects.
View the EA’s National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England and supporting action plan. These documents provide a vision and plan of how to protect and prepare homes and businesses from flooding and coastal change.