Location reference:
Cromer to Overstrand
Policy Unit reference:
6.05
SUMMARY OF PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS AND JUSTIFICATION
Plan:
The cliffs along this length of shoreline provide a vital sediment source for much of the SMP frontage.
Therefore maintaining this sediment input is a key aim for the region as a whole. There are also few
socio-economic assets at risk along this cliff-top; therefore there is no economic justification for
investment in defences along this frontage. Coupled with this is the fact that the cliffs are designated
at a European level, for their conservation importance which is partly maintained by the progressive
erosion which exposes areas of the cliff and then allows successional cycles of plant communities,
which provide much of the botanical value, and hence would be maintained by allowing erosion to
continue. Although it will be important to ensure that the defences at Cromer are not outflanked, the
long-term Plan for this area is to allow it to retreat.
Policies to implement Plan:
From present day:
The policy option is to allow retreat through, but through managed realignment
to allow defence ruins to be removed. There would no longer be any
maintenance of the existing timber groynes and revetments. Where they exist,
these defences have a life of between 5 and 10 years, so during this period
they will still have some effect on slowing natural cliff erosion.
This policy option will increase the volume of sediment provided to build
beaches throughout the SMP area, maintain the geological exposures of the
cliffs and foreshore and be in keeping with the AONB and SAC designations.
There will, however, be loss of golf course land and the coastal path would
need to be relocated.
Medium-term
Once defences fail, in the medium-term the policy option is no active
intervention to ensure a sediment supply to this, and importantly, downdrift
frontages. The lack of cliff-top development here also means there is little
economic justification for significant investment in defences along this frontage.
Measures will need to be identified in the medium-term to help minimise the
impact on the lives of individuals and communities in the long term, particularly
for the community living in the eastern end of Cromer. Works to defend the
coast are unlikely to be justifiable or consented. As there will be no holding
measures it is vital that social mitigation measures are fully developed before
the few properties at risk are directly affected.
Long-term:
In the long-term, the policy option is for no active intervention to ensure a
sediment supply to this, and importantly, downdrift frontages.
The above provides the local details in respect of the SMP-wide Plan; therefore the above must be read in the context of the
wider-scale issues and policy implications, as presented in the preceding sections and Appendices to this Plan document.
Between years 50 and 100, a small number of properties at the far eastern end
of Cromer might become at risk.
The above provides the local details in respect of the SMP-wide Plan; therefore the above must be read in the context of the
wider-scale issues and policy implications, as presented in the preceding sections and Appendices to this Plan document.
The above provides the local details in respect of the SMP-wide Plan; therefore the above must be read in the context of the
wider-scale issues and policy implications, as presented in the preceding sections and Appendices to this Plan document.
Location reference:
Cromer to Overstrand
Policy Unit reference:
6.05
PREDICTED IMPLICATIONS OF THE PLAN FOR THIS LOCATION
Time
Period
By 2025
By 2055
Property & Land Use
Nature Conservation
Continued loss of coastal strip of
golf course.
Naturally-functioning coast.
Further loss of golf course.
Naturally-functioning coast.
Cliffs, designated as SAC,
allowed to evolve naturally.
Cliffs, designated as SAC,
allowed to evolve naturally.
By 2105
Further loss of golf course. Loss
of less than 5 commercial
properties.
Naturally-functioning coast.
Cliffs, designated as SAC,
allowed to evolve naturally.
Landscape
Historic Environment
AONB landscape quality
maintained.
No historic objectives identified.
AONB landscape quality
maintained.
No historic objectives identified.
AONB landscape quality
maintained.
No historic objectives identified.
Amenity & Recreational
Use
Beach present.
Paston footpath will need to be
rerouted.
Beach present.
Paston footpath will need to be
rerouted.
Beach present.
Paston footpath will need to be
rerouted.