Can Cliff Erosion Be
Stopped?- Happisburgh
Case Study
By: JJ
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 Happisburgh (pronounced “Haze-bro”) is a
settlement located on the Norfolk coast,
eastern England. It has a population of
around 1400 people in 600 houses. Although
now a coastal village, this was not always
the case. When founded over 1000 years
ago, there was another village separating
Happisbourgh from the sea. Historical
records indicate that over 250m of land was
lost between 1600 and 1850.
Happisburgh, situated to the southern end of one of the most active stretches
of the Norfolk coast, is one of the primary providers of sediment for beaches
along the east Norfolk coast. The coastal part of the village is subject to
frequent coastal erosion: houses that used to be over 20 feet (6 m) from the
sea now sit at the edge of a cliff and are expected to fall into the sea.
SEA DEFENCES AT HAPPISBURGHREVETMENTS AND GROYNES
 The civil parish shrank by over 0.2 km² in
the 20th century by the erosion of its
beaches and low cliffs. Groynes were
constructed along the shore to try to stop
erosion during the 1950s.
 Sea defences were built in 1959 to slow the
erosion. Changes in government policy
mean that coastal protection in
Happisburgh is no longer fundable from
central government. The road (Beach
Road) that leads into the sea is being
steadily eroded.
Remnants of revetments at Happisburgh
Remnant of revetments
 A wooden revetment once stretched from
Happisburgh to the Cart Gap seawall, but
in 1990 a storm destroyed about 300
metres of it to the east of Happisburgh. The
rate of erosion increased rapidly following
the destruction of the wooden revetment.
Rock Amours Were Built
 In 2002 4,000 tonnes of rock
armour were placed at the foot of
cliffs at Happisburgh as a short
term response. A further 1,000
tonnes were added to the beach
in 2007.
 In 2015 9000 tonnes of rock armour
were re-aligned along the base of
the cliff as they were at risk of
being lost to the sea. The local
council and donations paid for
this.
 Despite the rock armour providing
some protection through
absorbing wave energy, the soft
cliffs are susceptible to mass
movement, even during the
summer.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR HAPPISBURGH?
Happisburgh is squeezed between firm defences to the
north and south, a position that places even more
pressure on the cliffs. It would take approximately
£15million to close the gap in sea defences and protect
Happisburgh. However, it is unlikely that long term, hard
engineering defences will be installed at Happisburgh. An
alternative, more sustainable solution could be to use the
‘sandscaping’ approach currently being trialled between
Winterton and Bacton. Currently, however, this stretch of
coast is being allowed to erode under a government
policy called “managed realignment”. It means
communities are being given time to move with some
sea defences put in place. Ultimately, however
devastating for those living there, nature will be allowed
to take its course.
Happisburgh in 2022