RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

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Section 3 Spatial Strategy
3.41 The coast is characterised by relatively remote settlements, interspersed by larger towns such as Great Yarmouth, King’s
Lynn and Lowestoft. There are major ports at Felixstowe, Harwich and in the Thames Estuary. Pockets of the coast are
relatively wealthy, but much is in need of significant regeneration. Tourism and recreation are important economic
activities although declining in some areas, as are agriculture, offshore oil and gas, renewable energy, shipping and
distribution, and some forms of manufacturing.
3.42 The coastline is naturally dynamic, with strong natural processes at work. It is particularly vulnerable to the effects of storm
surges, sea level rise and saline intrusion. Coastal erosion has already resulted in some re-alignment of flood defences
and loss of important habitats and, as the threat to existing defences grows, decisions will need to be made as to where
and how much investment in coastal flood management should take place to protect communities and key infrastructure.
Coastal towns and villages are likely to continue to be protected from flooding but, away from developed areas, there may
be a need to relocate existing infrastructure and assets to less vulnerable zones.
3.43 Local planning authorities should adopt mutually supportive policies to protect threatened sites and habitats that cross
local authority boundaries. Habitats which cannot be conserved in situ should be replaced by new areas of habitat in
sustainable locations as close as possible to existing areas and, wherever possible, before the original site is lost. Where
realignment and habitat creation may impact on buried archaeological sites, archaeological evaluation and/or mitigation
is likely to be necessary.
3.44 Much of the coast is protected by flood and coastal defences. Flood management policy for the coast is set out in
shoreline management plans prepared by local authorities and the Environment Agency. Shoreline management plans
will normally be reviewed on a 5-10 year cycle and local planning authorities should take account of them when preparing
Local Development Documents. This will help ensure:
• future development does not take place in unsuitable areas at risk from flooding, coastal erosion and cliff instability;
• development is restricted in possible areas of managed realignment; and
• development does not affect the natural balance of the coastline to the extent that erosion is caused elsewhere or that
further or improved coastal defences have to be built or maintained.
3.45 In addition to shoreline management plans, integrated coastal zone management should be informed by estuary
management plans and management programmes for sites designated under the Habitats Regulations. There is scope
for improved integration between coastal defence and land use planning in regard to such issues as economic
development, biodiversity, tourism and recreation.