Conclusion

This project is now complete and the following reports and supplementary information are available to view and download:

Filename & Description	Size	Filetype
Mechanisms for Securing Contributions Report from RPA - April 2011	0.72Mb
Annex 2 Hunstanton Stakeholder Workshop - 19 November 2010	0.25Mb
Annex 3 Snettisham Stakeholder Workshop - 3 December 2010	0.09Mb
Annex 4 Hunstanton Stakeholder Workshop - 16 December 2010	0.10Mb
Annex 5 Heacham Drop-in Session - 2 December 2010	0.18Mb
Annex 6 Analysis of Questionnaire Responses	0.09Mb
Evaluation Notes to Defra	0.03Mb

Background

The Borough of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk (BCKL&WN) borders North Norfolk District.  The northern part of the Borough’s coastline, from Old Hunstanton eastwards, is within the North Norfolk Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) area.  NNDC is acting on behalf of BCKLWN in relation to the North Norfolk SMP.  NNDC is also commissioned to provide technical coastal advice to BCKLWN so there is a history of joint working between the two authorities on coastal matters which has the potential to be expanded further.

The coastal frontage between Wolferton Creek and South Hunstanton includes the tourism destinations of Snettisham, Heacham and the southern part of Hunstanton.  The land is generally flat and low lying along this coastal strip, but then it rises sharply in an eastward direction towards the A149.  The frontage is protected by a frontline shingle bank backed up by a seabank.  This double defence line tapers into a single hard defence at South Hunstanton. 

The parts of Snettisham, Heacham and South Hunstanton on the lower ground have a distinct coastal character and play an important tourism role, characterised by extensive static caravan parks, holiday centres, a golf course and substantial holiday homes on the shingle bank itself.  Major investment has taken place, and continues to take place, in these facilities.  They make a significant contribution to the tourism industry, which is a key sector of the west Norfolk economy, which in overall terms supports approximately 5,500 full time equivalent jobs and has an estimated value of £395m to the local economy.

There are approximately 3,000 holiday accommodation units on the lower ground located between the shingle bank and sea bank or immediately to the east of the sea bank.

The environment in front of the flood defence has a high conservation value with internationally important and designated inter-tidal habitats which reflect the wildlife importance of The Wash.
 
The shingle ridge and sea bank, which are the responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA), provide a relatively low standard (1 in 50 years) flood defence.  The shingle ridge and beach require continued maintenance, and even the existing defence standard will be difficult to sustain in the future.  Higher sea levels and more storms make overtopping, flooding and risk to life more likely.  It is estimated that to “hold the line” to 2105 would cost £45m and even to do this until 2025 would cost £12m.  Up to 2025, the average cost per unit of holiday accommodation most affected (i.e. between the two defence lines) is estimated to be £430 per year.

The intent of management in the draft Shoreline Management Plan is to hold the line up to 2025.  Beyond 2025, the draft SMP says that a joint approach is required with stakeholders, including business and community interests, to determine the way forward.  This could involve a combination of different solutions for different parts of the frontage ranging from hold the line to adaptation and rollback of tourism facilities.  The SMP highlights that the cost of continued flood defence may have to be met from a combination of sources, including private and local contributions, to supplement any funding which may be made available from Government.

This project seeks to explore the equitable mechanism for securing business and private contributions towards the long term costs of coastal flood defence along the Wolferton Creek – South Hunstanton frontage, building on the initial indications of support already expressed by the business community.