Item 10(4)
Report to the Executive for Decision
4 April 2011
Portfolio:
Subject:
Report of:
Strategy/Policy:
Corporate
Objective:
Strategic Planning and Environment
River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble Coastal
Defence Strategy
Director of Planning and Environment
Protecting and enhancing our environment
Purpose:
To seek adoption of the River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble Coastal
Defence Strategy Study.
Executive summary:
Coastal Defence Strategy studies (CDS) are an important component of the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) strategic framework for
the future management of coastal erosion and coastal flood risk to people, the
developed and natural environments. They require economic, environmental and
technical assessments to demonstrate the viability of any proposed schemes.
Coastal local authorities that have developed and adopted a CDS are eligible to
apply for flood and coastal defence grant in aid funding from Defra. The CDS follows
on from the North Solent Shoreline Management Plan, providing greater detail on
sustainable schemes in the coastal zone.
Recommendations
That:(a)
the River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble CDS be adopted;
(b)
the Executive endorse the Action Plan (Appendix 1); and
(c)
the Executive agree that the relevant authorities continue to work in
partnership to ensure the actions in the action plan are monitored and
delivered.
Reason:
To provide detail on the most sustainable management practice on the Fareham
coastline. The information will assist in securing central government funding for
future coastal defence schemes.
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Item 10(4)
Cost of proposals:
None arising directly from this report.
Appendices A:
B:
Action plan
Map of strategy study area showing policy units
Background papers: None
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Item 10(4)
Executive Briefing Paper
Date: 4 April 2011
Subject: River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble Coastal Defence
Strategy
Briefing by: Director of Planning and Environment
Portfolio: Strategic Planning and Environment
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.
To inform members of the policies contained in the final version of the River
Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble Coastal Defence Strategy.
2.
To recommend that the Executive approve the final policies and action plan.
WHY DO WE NEED A COASTAL DEFENCE STRATEGY (CDS)?
3.
A Coastal Defence strategy offers greater detail on specific schemes within
coastal zones rather than taking the broad strategic overview dealt with in the
North Solent Shoreline Management Plan.
4.
It is necessary to plan and justify coastal flood and erosion risk management
works as public money is used to fund certain schemes. Strategies guide
decisions which are long term and are undertaken to ensure that the future
implications works on the coast are understood. The strategy has also to ensure
that the environmental implications of any works carried out on the coast are
considered.
5.
The primary objective of the CDS is the protection of people, assets and property
from coastal erosion and flooding, through the development and implementation
of a sustainable strategy for coastal defence. This must be compatible with
natural processes, environmentally acceptable, economically and technically
viable and also with preferred management strategies in neighbouring areas and
with the higher level North Solent Shoreline Management Plan covering the study
area.
STRATEGY AIMS:

To provide an appropriate level of coastal and flood defence to prevent coastal
erosion and flooding of properties and the low lying hinterland;

To provide sustainable defences, which utilise natural defence mechanisms
wherever possible.
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Item 10(4)

To enhance the natural environment and to increase the potential for recreation
and tourism.

To provide a blueprint for future monitoring and programming of maintenance
works.

To increase the understanding of the shoreline and to focus consultations in a
strategic manner.

To aid co-ordination and to consolidate information gathered within higher level
plans.
THE COASTAL DEFENCE STRATEGY
6.
Work on the strategy began before 2005 meaning that much of the background
data was collected in 2005-6. The draft strategy was near to completion in 2007
but was significantly delayed by the emergence of new requirements under the
Habitats Regulations in 2007.
7.
The CDS outlines management policies over 3 time periods or epochs: present
day (0-20 years); medium term (20-50 years); and long term (50-100 years).
Development of the CDS was led by Southampton City Council in partnership
with Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire
County Council.
THE CDS STUDY AREA
8.
The CDS study area lies along the north eastern shores of Southampton Water
which connects via the Solent to the English Channel. The study area comprises
the River Itchen, Weston, Netley and River Hamble frontages. The CDS covers
part of the area dealt with by the North Solent SMP2 which is now complete. The
SMP2 has taken into account the findings of this CDS.
9.
The frontages of this strategy relevant to Fareham are found on the East bank of
the River Hamble extending from Swanwick Shore Road to Hook Park (HAM 4 HAM 8). (See Table 1)
CDS POLICY UNITS
10. The CDS study area is divided according to the original 'policy units' and
'management units' outlined in the former Western Solent to Southampton Water
SMP 1998, which has now been superceded by the North Solent Shoreline
Management plan (SMP2). Each policy unit represents a section of coastline that
demonstrates similar coastal process characteristics and is sufficiently
independent of adjacent stretches of shoreline. Each policy unit is then
subdivided into smaller management units which enable identification of different
defence options and consideration of their impact on features within that
management unit. To view the policy units on a map please refer to Appendix B.
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Item 10(4)
TABLE 1
Policy
Name
Unit Policy Unit Description
Woodmill Lane to Cobden Bridge
ITCH3
ITCH4
Cobden Bridge to Weston Point
NET1
Weston Point to Netley Castle
NET2
Netley Castle to Netley Hard
NET3
Netley Hard to Cliff House
NET4
Cliff House to Ensign Industrial Park
NET5
Ensign Industrial Park to Hamble Oil Terminal
NET6
Hamble Oil Terminal to Hamble Common Point
HAM1
Hamble Common Point to Satchell Marshes
HAM2
Satchell Marshes to Badnam Creek
HAM3
Badnam Creek to Lands End Lane
HAM4
Lands' End Lane to Swanwick shore road
HAM5
Swanwick Shore Road to Universal Marina
HAM6
Universal Marina
HAM7
Universal Marina to Warsash North
HAM8
Warsash North To Hook park
DEFENCE POLICIES
11. Policy options are derived from analysis of a number of policy drivers and their
susceptibility to tidal flooding and coastal erosion hazards at present and in the
future in light of predictions of climate change and sea level rise. The Policies are
then scrutinised by economic and environmental assessments to determine the
most sustainable approach to the future management of the policy unit.
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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TABLE 2
Policy
Comment
No Active Intervention (NAI)
Make no changes to the existing defence
(Except to comply with Health and safety
legislation) and allow natural processes to
take place.
Active Intervention Maintain (AIM)
Actively maintain the existing defence which
can include improvement works to extend its
life and increase its potential for future
defence.
Active Intervention Sustain (AIS)
Actively sustain the existing defence to
ensure it delivers the same benefits as
present. Any works to increase the
effectiveness of the defence will not be
permitted.
Managed Realignment (MR)
Actively retreat the line of defence landward
to a predefined distance.
CONSULTATION
12. Throughout its preparation the River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble
CDS has been subject to consultation, both internal and external. Involvement
from officer representatives from all contributing local authorities has been an
ongoing process throughout development of the plan. An initial round of written
consultation was completed in May 2006. The primary purpose of this stage was
to obtain available information on issues relevant to the study area prior to
developing the options within the CDS. A formal period of public consultation was
held between 16 August and 5 November 2010.
13. Officers were involved in the review of the comments received and subsequent
responses, which had the potential for significant revisions or changes to the plan
and/or policy options. Through this approach the final policy options and revisions
arising from the consultation process were agreed. Fareham Borough Council did
not receive any consultation responses but Southampton City received several
responses which have been fed into the strategy.
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Item 10(4)
FINAL CDS POLICIES - RELEVANT TO FAREHAM
Policy Unit
Reference
Start of Unit
End of Unit
Epoch 1
Epoch 2
Epoch 3
0-20yrs
20-50yrs
50-100yrs
Active
Intervention
(Maintain)
No Active
Intervention
(NAI)
No Active
Intervention
Active
Intervention
(Maintain)
No Active
Intervention
Active
Intervention
(Maintain)
No Active
Intervention
No Active
Intervention
Managed
Realignment
Warsash
North
No Active
Intervention
No Active
Intervention
No Active
Intervention
Hook Park
No Active
Intervention
Managed
Realignment
Managed
Realignment
HAM4
Lands' End
Lane
Swanwick
Shore Road
HAM5
Swanwick
Shore Road
Universal
Marina
HAM6
Universal Marina
HAM7
Universal
Marina
HAM8
Warsash
North
14. The No Active Intervention policies in the 3 epochs do not prevent private
landowners from maintaining their existing defences but it will preclude the
expenditure of national funding on this frontage. Any new defences proposed by
private landowners would require planning and other relevant consents. Coastal
Defence strategies are usually reviewed every 5-7 years (funding dependent) to
update the policies in light of new data and knowledge that becomes available in
the interim.
ACTION PLAN
15. The actions identified in the action plan (Appendix A) are necessary to enable the
River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble CDS policy options to be
implemented.
16. The River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble CDS is a non- statutory
document which does not commit the Council to any capital expenditure.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
17. Delivery of the activities of relevance to Fareham within the action plan are likely
to fall within existing budgets. Any additional resources required for project
activities will be sought through flood and coastal erosion risk management
(FCERM) funding recovered from the EA within project costs.
RECREATION IMPLICATIONS
18. Although the strategy identifies a NO ACTIVE INTERVENTION policy for HAM 7
it has flagged up the recreational importance of the coastal pathway at 'Bunny
Meadows'. The strategy concludes that further investigation is required by
Hampshire County Council and an adaptation strategy for the future is needed.
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Item 10(4)
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
19. The statutory power to undertake proposals to manage coastal flood and erosion
risks are held by Fareham Borough Council under the Coast Protection Act 1949
and the Land Drainage Act 1991, although these are permissive powers only.
20. There are no other identified legal implications.
POLICY FRAMEWORK IMPLICATIONS
21. The policies within the River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble CDS will
inform the flood risk management elements/policies within the series of
documents comprising the Local Development Framework and they will be a
material consideration in determining relevant planning applications along this
section of coastal frontage in Fareham.
RISK ASSESSMENT
22. There are no significant risks associated with the adoption of this document.
CONCLUSION
23. The Executive is asked to:
(a)
adopt the River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley and Hamble Coastal Defence
Strategy Study;
(b)
endorse the action plan that will need to be taken forward over the duration
of the plan period; and
(c)
agree that the relevant authorities continue to work in partnership to ensure
the actions in the Action Plan are monitored and delivered in a costeffective and timely manner and inform emerging and future studies and
schemes.
Reference Papers: None
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Item 10(4)
APPENDIX A
Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Contact: Scott Mills, Coastal and Land Drainage Officer
E-mail – smills@fareham.gov.uk (Tel: 01329 824479)
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Item 10(4)
APPENDIX B