John Buttivant - Environment Agency Bristol Channel Strategic Coastal Group, Shoreline and Flood Risk Management John has a BSc in Geography from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He is a chartered Water and Environmental Manager and a Chartered Environmentalist. Since joining the Environment Agency in 2001 John has had a key role in Coastal Management at all levels from individual flood defence schemes to strategic management planning and regional coastal monitoring. Currently, he is a Senior Coastal Advisor working for the Environment Agency’s Wessex Area, where he maintains a Strategic Overview of coastal activities and works closely with local authorities and other stakeholders to manage the risks of flooding and coastal erosion. The Coastal Groups play a key role in the integrated management of coastal flood and erosion risks. They are responsible for production of the Shoreline Management Plans and have key roles in the sharing of best practice and overview of coastal issues. Local Authorities and the Environment Agency are working hard to address the demands of society for effective coastal defences as well as meeting legal obligations to mitigate habitat losses. The challenges posed to the coastal authorities by increasing sea levels adds to the pressure at a time when direct government funding is decreasing. The Coastal Groups have a vital role to play in assisting the coastal operating authorities as they seek external partners and partnership funding to deliver improvements to defences whilst acting as a focus for innovative solutions that meet the demands of society.

2. Their role in shoreline Management
John Buttivant
Coastal Engineer
September 2012
Coastal Groups

4. Weston - super - Mare 1981

5. Burnham 1981Burnham 1981

8. Dunster Beach nr Minehead

13. Severn Estuary SPA

14. Coastal Groups
Informal groups 1980s
Process based
Share best practice
SMP and Action Plan
Strategic Coastal Groups 2008
Overview of Action Plan delivery
EA and RFCC link
Long Term Investment Strategy/MTP
DEFRA ‘line of sight’
Monitoring
Research and Development

15. St Abbs Head to the Tyne
Wansbeck DC
The Tyne to Flamborough Head
Scarborough BC
Flamborough Head to Gibraltar Point
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Gibraltar Point to Hunstanton
Environment Agency
Hunstanton to Kelling Hard
Environment Agency
Kelling Hard to Lowestoft
North Norfolk DC
Lowestoft to Felixstowe
Suffolk Coastal DC
Felixstowe to Two Tree Island
Environment Agency
River Medway and Swale Estuary
Canterbury CC & Environm’t Agency
Isle of Grain to South Foreland
Canterbury CC
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
1
2
South Foreland to Beachy Head
Shepway DC
11
Beachy Head to Selsey Bill
Arun DC
12
Selsey Bill to Hurst Spit
New Forest DC
13Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight Council
14
Hurst Spit to Durlston Head
Bournemouth BC
15
Rame Head to Hartland Point
Caradon DC
17
Hartland Point to Anchor Head
North Devon DC
18
Anchor Head to Lavernock Point
Monmouthshire Council
19
Lavernock Point to St Ann’s Head
Camarthenshire Council
20
Durlston Head to Rame Head
Teignbridge DC
16
St Ann’s Head to Great Ormes Head
Pembrokeshire Council
21
Great Ormes Head to Scotland
Blackpool BC
22
Shoreline Management Plans
• Defra High Level
Target
• Coastal defence
decisions
• Sustainable defences
• Natural environment
• Human environment
• Built environment
• Action Plans

16. Objectives
To set out risks to our coast
and estuaries
To identify preferred policies
to manage these
To discourage inappropriate
development
To meet nature conservation
legislation

17. Current Situation
Tidal Floodplain
without sea level rise

18. Erosion risk information
• Complement flood
map
• Clear information to
public
• Evidence for planning
• Best science
• Coastal engagement

19. Evidence – Coast Monitoring

20. National Network of Coastal Monitoring Programmes
(2011–16)

22. Longitude
Latitude
Simulation of 1979 Event using 1 minute resolution: Hs 7m Input Tp 18(s) Direction 240 (degrees)
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2
48.5
49
49.5
50
50.5
51
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

25. Policy options available
1. Hold the existing defence line
2. Advance the existing defence line
3. Managed realignment
4. No active intervention
• 0 – 20 years
• 20 – 50 years
• 50 – 100 years

26. Coastal Defence Planning
SMP
Identifies general policies and
implementation requirements
Coastal Defence Strategy
Identifies nature and type of
work to be undertaken
Scheme
Design, construction and
maintenance of defences

27. Next Steps
Action Plans
Strategy
Beach
Management
Plans

29. The need for coastal adaptation
History of flooding
‘No Active Intervention’ or
‘Managed Realignment’
Defra assessing how
communities can best adapt to
increasing risks
‘Big Society’ encourages
communal solutions

30. Somerset Pathfinder
• Led by Somerset County Council on behalf of partner organisations

32. Lessons Learnt
• Little experience of a severe flood event
• Scenarios are useful tools, but consider how they are portrayed
• Encouraging good attendance at drop-in sessions:
– Publicity
– Accessibility
– Format
– Provide answers to queries

33. Successes
• A dedicated Project Officer
• Practical, close-knit community
• A series of drop-in sessions
• Website
• E-game
• Non-technical outputs & stepped
development of Adaptation Action
Plan
• Porlock Weir Flood Action Group is
being formed

34. ‘Big Society’ and Localism
Reduced sea defence funding
can incentivise communities to
seek a communal solution
Local knowledge is essential
Parish Council play an important
role in mobilising community
Social Media

36. Strategic flood defence solution required to allow planned growth
at Bridgwater, given extent of flood risk.
Preferred Solution is a Surge Barrier known as ‘The Parrett
Barrier’ - estimated cost £24.6m
Need for policy approach to deal with PPS25 requirements for new
development to be safe for its lifetime taking climate change into
account
Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was completed in
3 months – EA/SDC. – delivers a ‘roof tax ‘ on all new development
Being used to secure estimated £3.2m contribution from a strategic
mixed use scheme at North East Bridgwater.
The Planning Background

37. Contributions will be held by the Sedgemoor District Council;
A mechanism will be in place to ring fence funds for the Parrett
Barrier;
SDC will produce an annual statement of total contributions
secured;
SDC/EA will jointly commission a review of the scheme cost
estimates at ‘key project milestones’, available alternative
sources of funding, and the strength of the business case for
delivery of the scheme;
Contributions will be index linked;
Key Principles of Tariff

42. Thank you for Listening...