Location reference:
Corton
Policy Unit reference:
6.22
SUMMARY OF PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS AND JUSTIFICATION
Plan:
The exposure of this coastline means that technically it is already becoming increasingly difficult to
hold the present shoreline position, with beaches becoming almost impossible to retain. This is due to
the prominent position of this frontage, relative to the shoreline either side, with it being some distance
forward of its natural position. There is also insufficient economic justification for providing defence
against ongoing erosion. Continued defence at this location will also increasingly interrupt sediment
movement along this coastline, which will be to the detriment of Gunton Warren and Lowestoft. The
long-term Plan for Corton is therefore to allow the cliffs to retreat, allow a more natural shoreline
position to be attained. However, there will be loss of property and associated infrastructure within the
village; therefore it may be acceptable to manage this retreat where this can be economically justified
and is not detrimental to processes and environmental gains. Notwithstanding this, measures to
manage risk and mitigate the displacement of people and loss of property and assets will need to be
developed and put in place.
Policies to implement Plan:
From present day:
The policy option in the short term is to hold the line to protect the village
frontage through routine and reactive maintenance of the existing defences, i.e.
the rock armour, sea wall and cliff slope protection, where this is physically
possible, and funding allows. The actual timing of wall failures is estimated to
be between 2025 and 2030, but to comply with the long-term Plan they would
not be replaced should there be a major failure in advance of that date.
This approach will minimise cliff erosion, and should continue to protect assets
within the village. However, any measures to accommodate changes in
defence practice and loss of property in the medium-term need to be
established during this period. Investigations will thus be undertaken to identify
technical options and an appropriate package of social mitigation measures, in
preparation for the transition to the medium to long term policy option of
managed realignment (see sections below). Only when such adequate
mitigating social measures are identified, which will limit the impact on the lives
of individuals and the community, would the long-term change to a managed
realignment policy option be implemented. These measures will need to
consider the predicted loss of The Street in the long term. The Coastal
Strategy will need to identify various responsibilities for addressing the future
loss of infrastructure (access, sewers, gas etc) including the effect on
properties in the hinterland.
This short term policy option is not detrimental to the achievement of the longterm Plan, as it is expected that coastal response in the absence of defence
would be rapid.
Medium-term:
The maintenance of defences along this frontage will become more difficult,
and therefore much more expensive, as the Corton coast continues to develop
as a promontory and becomes more exposed. It will also be detrimental to
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.
achievement of a naturally functioning shoreline. The medium-term Plan is
therefore to cease maintenance of the defences and allow cliff erosion so that a
more natural shoreline (i.e. less of a promontory) is achieved. Management of
the abandoned defences may be a key influence in the delivery of strategic
benefits and will also impact upon beach access opportunity. There will be loss
of cliff top assets of up to 40 properties under this policy option; therefore a
requirement will be for measures identified in the short term stage of the plan to
be put in place prior to this time that will enable appropriate relocation of
people, properties and facilities.
To achieve the Plan the shoreline needs to reach a position generally in line
with shoreline on either side. As the shoreline erodes towards that position,
there may be justification for occasional intervention to help manage the
retreat. Defence measures that temporarily slow (rather than halt) erosion are
likely to be acceptable, provided that these do not prevent the alongshore
transport of beach sediment and do not result in the development of this area
as a promontory, i.e. phases of retreat should be allowed for. Therefore the
policy option is to allow retreat through managed realignment.
Long-term:
In the long-term the policy option is to allow cliff retreat. This will deliver
technical and environmental benefits, but a number of assets will be lost, with
over 100 properties being lost; however the commitment to social mitigation
measures developed in the short term will lessen the socio-economic impact of
this policy option.
As the shoreline reaches a position more in line with the adjacent cliffs,
beaches should be healthier and it is expected that erosion rates would slow.
As a result, management of the shoreline could be more easily achieved,
through measures such as groynes, without being detrimental to adjacent
areas. Therefore the policy option is to allow retreat through managed
realignment.
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:
Corton
Policy Unit reference:
6.22
PREDICTED IMPLICATIONS OF THE PLAN FOR THIS LOCATION
Time
Period
By 2025
Property & Land Use
No loss of property or land
behind the existing defences.
Nature Conservation
No variance; continued exposure
of SSSI cliffs.
Landscape
No landscape objectives
identified.
Historic Environment
No loss.
Amenity & Recreational
Use
Little/ no beach present – no
change in beach access.
No loss of community or
recreational facilities landward of
defences.
By 2055
Loss of less than circa 20 houses
and less than circa 20
commercial properties and
associated infrastructure/
services.
Improved exposure of SSSI cliffs
and sediment linkage
alongshore.
No landscape objectives
identified.
Some loss of high importance
area seaward of Corton Church.
Narrow beach retained but
relocation of access required.
Opportunity for and quality of use
will depend upon how defence
debris is managed after failure.
Coast Road (the Street) will be
severed.
Loss of some seafront facilities.
Loss of seafront caravan sites/
holiday camps.
By 2105
Cumulative loss of less than
approximately 90 houses and
less than 25 commercial
properties and associated
infrastructure/ services.
Loss of Methodist Church,
school, village hall and Public
House.
Further loss of seafront caravan
sites/ holiday camps.
Further loss of main coast road.
Naturally functioning system.
Improved exposure of SSSI cliffs
and sediment linkage
alongshore.
No landscape objectives
identified.
Further loss of high importance
archaeological area.
Narrow beach retained but
relocation of access required.
Loss of further seafront facilities.