Pathfinder Projects

In 2009 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (Defra) invited local authorities to apply to an £11 million funded Coastal Change Pathfinder Programme. The Pathfinder Programme is an 18 month ‘road test’ for local authorities to explore ways of helping coastal communities plan and adapt to coastal change.

NNDC were successful in securing the largest amount of funding (£3 million) to trial its projects from December 2009 to April 2011.

The North Norfolk Pathfinder intends to trial a range of initiatives and evaluate their effectiveness, the issues faced and lessons learnt and then to report back to Defra. This information will then inform future government coastal policies; however it is not yet clear how the findings will be interpreted or what support, financial or otherwise, will be available beyond these initial Pathfinder projects.

Whilst implementing the Pathfinder projects some issues which affect individuals and communities will be tackled, unfortunately the projects will not enable everyone’s needs to be met.