Flooding and erosion
Coastal flood and erosion risk management in
Kent
Erosion results when waves and currents change the physical
shape of the coastline.
Flooding, on the other hand, occurs when defences or natural
barriers are breached or overtopped.
Both can have catastrophic effects on the communities living
where the erosion or flooding event takes place.
Many of Kent's major settlements are based at the coast and it
is therefore vital that coastal erosion and flood risk is
appropriately managed.
Shoreline Management Plan
Policy for coastal defence is determined by a Shoreline
Management Plan. The purpose of a Shoreline Management Plan is to
provide a large-scale assessment of the risks associated with
coastal processes.
It then presents a policy framework to reduce these risks, both
to people and the environment (developed, historic and natural) in
a sustainable way.
The Kent coast is currently covered by two Shoreline Management
Plans, which provide coastal defence policy for the next 100
years:
- Beachy Head to South Foreland
- North and east Kent.
Whilst the Shoreline Management Plan provides a long term policy
framework, it does not determine how that policy will be delivered.
For this reason, a coastal strategy is developed from a strategic
assessment that presents the defence options for a specific
management unit of the coastline.
The strategy then selects the most appropriate method for
protecting the coastline. The majority of Kent's coast is covered
by eight coastal strategies, with exception of the Thanet coast and
the coastline between Folkestone and South Foreland, where it has
been determined that there is currently no need for one.
Generally, the Environment Agency or local authority undertakes
coastal protection works. However, sometimes landowners, such as
Network Rail, will also carry out such work.
The response to coastal erosion and flooding in Kent and East
Sussex is co-ordinated by the South East Coastal Group. They are
responsible for bringing together the regions coastal local
authorities, the Environment Agency, county councils, Natural
England, land owners and Defra.
The South East Coastal Group works to encourage an integrated,
strategic approach to the management of the entire coastal
zone.
For more information on coastal management, view the
Kent Coast fact
sheet.