Frequently Asked Questions:

• What is a Shoreline Management Plan?
• What does a SMP do?
• How does a SMP work?
• What policies are set by a SMP?
• Who is preparing the Severn Estuary SMP2?
• Where can I get more information on the Severn Estuary SMP2?
• What about the Severn Barrage?
• When will the Severn Estuary SMP2 be published?
• How can I get involved in the Severn Estuary SMP2?

What is a Shoreline Management Plan?

A Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is a high level non-statutory plan that includes:

• A large-scale assessment of the coastline - identifying the natural forces sculpting the shoreline and predicting, as far as possible, how the coast will change over time with erosion, sea level rise and climate change (in three 'epochs' of 20, 50 and 100 years time);
• Identifies the risks to the developed, historic and natural environments as the coast changes;
• A policy framework to manage the risks in a sustainable manner - an indication of how the coastline should look in the three epochs (in 20, 50 and 100 years).

What does a SMP do?

A SMP is a non-statutory, policy document for coastal defence management planning that advises on how the coastline should change in the long term. It is developed in partnership by local authorities, regulators and other stakeholders.

It enables planners and regulators to plan for and manage the way that the coast will change. This could be by maintaining or improving defences, by enabling the natural processes to play a greater role, creating new natural habitat or by helping areas that are at risk of flooding at some point in the future to cope with and limit the impact of flooding events.

It aims to provide more certainty for landowners, residents and businesses; to know how the coast will be managed by regulators during the next 100 years, so that they can plan ahead and make decisions about investments, homes, development and the management of their resources.

A SMP only sets out policy for coastal defence management. It doesn't set policy for any other ways of managing flood risk (such as land drainage) or for the management of coastal resources (e.g. aggregates). It does, however, take into account plans and policies that manage flood risk from rivers (e.g. Catchment Flood Risk Management Plans) to ensure that they do not contradict each other.

It also takes account of other existing planning initiatives and legislative requirements, and is intended to inform wider strategic planning. For example, the information contained in the SMP will form the basis for a Planning Authority to offer advice on future development or advice to the public (and others) on how to avoid building in areas that are likely to be at risk from coastal erosion or flooding.

How does a SMP work?

The coastline will be divided up into sections called 'Policy Units'. For each section, the SMP will recommend one of the following four policy options:

• No active intervention - no construction of new defences or maintenance or upgrade of existing defences;
• Hold the existing line of defence - keeping the line of existing defences in their current position. This may mean repairing or replacing defences in the same place as they currently exist. This may or may not included upgrades to counter climate change and sea level rise;
• Managed realignment - landward retreat of defences, giving up some land to the sea to form a more sustainable defence in the long-term;
• Advance the existing line of defence - seawards movement of the defences.

A policy option will be needed for each of the three epochs (20, 50 and 100 years). Choosing a particular policy option for one epoch does not mean that policy option will be the same for all three epochs. For example, the policy option for a stretch of coast could be 'hold the existing line' for the first epoch (0 - 20 years), changing to 'managed realignment' for the next epoch (20 - 50 years). Choosing the policy options will be based on many different factors, such as the natural processes affecting the coast, climate change, presence of important features that benefit the community, economic factors, presence of nature conservation sites, and many more. The choice of policy options will be informed by information provided by and the opinions of stakeholders.

Local Authorities and regulators with responsibilities for managing the shoreline will be asked to adopt the SMP2 and to make their decisions based on the policy options in the plan. This will help ensure that, for example, future developments are not put at higher risk of flood or coastal erosion.

What policies are set by an SMP?

The coastline will be divided up into sections called 'Policy Units’. For each section, the SMP will recommend one of the following four policy options:

A policy option will be needed for each of the three epochs (20, 50 and 100 years). Choosing a particular policy option for one epoch does not mean that policy option will be the same for all three epochs. For example, the policy option for a stretch of coast could be 'hold the existing line' for the first epoch (0 - 20 years), changing to 'managed realignment' for the next epoch (20 - 50 years).

Choosing the policy units and options will be based on many different factors, such as the current land-use, natural processes affecting the coast, climate change, presence of important features that benefit the community, economic factors, presence of nature conservation sites, and many more. The choice of policy options will be informed by information provided by and the opinions of stakeholders.

Local Authorities and regulators with responsibilities for managing the shoreline will be asked to adopt the SMP2 and to make their decisions based on the policy options in the plan. The Action Plan, published on completion of public consultation, will guide Local Authorities in the activities required to implement, and where necessary adapt to, SMP2 policy. This will help ensure that, for example, future developments are not put at higher risk of flood or coastal erosion.

Who is preparing the Severn Estuary SMP2?

Atkins Ltd was commissioned by the Severn Estuary Coastal Group to complete the Severn Estuary SMP2. The progress and direction of the Severn Estuary SMP2 is guided by the Project Management Group (PMG), made up of representatives from the:

Prior to final publication of the SMP2, consultation with the public will be completed by the SECG, and amendments made by Atkins Ltd.

Where can I get more information on the Severn Estuary SMP2?

The Severn Estuary SMP2 document has been made available online. The main report provides an overview of the SMP2 and signposts the appendices from which to get more detailed information about the SMP2 process.

Further information will be available at the 3 ‘drop-in’ exhibitions, scheduled for 11 November (Penarth), 12 November (Bristol) and 13 November (Gloucester), each of which shall be attended by councillors and officers of the project partners, along with representatives from Atkins Ltd, who are project managing the review.

What about the Severn Barrage?

The SMP2 does NOT take into consideration the Barrage (or similar scheme) in any SMP policy decision making. No decision has been made on which scheme, if any, would be supported by Government.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Welsh Assembly Government are currently part way through funding a feasibility study of potential wave and tidal power generation technologies within the Severn Estuary. The study aims to gather evidence to help Government to decide if it could / should support a tidal power scheme(s) in the Severn and on what terms e.g. public / private ownership, investment, etc.

Phase 1 of the study has finished – this reduced the long list of 10 possible schemes down to 5. These are being considered in more detail in Phase 2.

There will be a public consultation on Phase 2. This will probably be in 2010 after the Draft SMP2 has been consulted with the public. Phase 2 of the Feasibility study and any planning application will have to take potential impacts on coastal flooding and erosion into account, including the policies set out in SMP2.

If a Severn tidal power project does go ahead, it would be subject to the normal planning and consenting process. This could take 3 - 5 years (i.e. potentially at a time when this SMP2 will need to be reviewed again).

When will the Severn Estuary SMP2 be published?

The Severn Estuary SMP2 will be published in April 2010.

How can I get involved in the Severn Estuary SMP2?

The Severn Estuary Shoreline Management Plan Review is presented to the stakeholders for consultation during the 3 month public consultation period, from Monday 5 October 2009 through to 10 January 2010.

The views of the stakeholders (residents, interest groups, businesses and other organisations that have an interest in or are likely to be affected in some way by future shoreline management decisions) have been sought throughout the SMP2 process, primary at events in January, June and August 2009. These have been taken on board by the consultants in preparation of the SMP2. The Severn Estuary Partnership (SEP) now require involvement and feedback from the stakeholders on the Draft SMP2.

The public are invited to comment, either by letters and emails or by completing an online form on the website. There will be 3 ‘drop-in’ exhibitions, scheduled for 11 November (Penarth), 12 November (Bristol) and 13 November (Gloucester), each of which shall be attended by councillors and officers of the project partners, along with representatives from Atkins Ltd. Further details of these events will appear here in due course.