New coastal erosion plan explored for Great Yarmouth
It will utilise an £8m pot of funding to help those living in places like Hemsby, Winterton and Hopton
A new plan has been drawn up that seeks to help people living along a vulnerable stretch of Norfolk's coastline that is battling against the threat of erosion and climate change.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council is looking to adopt a new ‘coastal adaptation policy’ which will utilise an £8m pot of funding to help those living in places like Hemsby, Winterton and Hopton.
A range of actions have been suggested, which include acquiring land outside of risk zones to then be used to build replacement properties for homes that have been lost to the sea.
The move follows news that planned coastal defences to protect the village of Hemsby are no longer possible due to a lack of funding.
GYBC will seek to use the £8.4m ‘resilient coast project’ cash which comes from one of 25 Environment Agency-funded projects nationally to implement the intervention schemes aimed at helping communities adapt to the threat of erosion.
The funds are shared between GYBC and East Suffolk Council.
Actions the council could take to help people who have lost homes to erosion include buying land and homes outside of risk zones for people to relocate to, purchasing at-risk properties and land and offering properties to rent through its council-owned housing company.
The authority has also proposed changes to its housing policy to make it easier to react to the challenges faced due to erosion.
"A one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate"
Council leader Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ‘’As our residents are only too well aware, our coastline is extremely dynamic and continues to face rapid erosion.
“Given the limited national funding available we needed to create a policy that enables the council to devise tailored responses for those affected that address their unique needs.
’A one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate for the diverse communities we represent and, if adopted, this policy will enable the council to have conversations with its coastal communities to shape plans that meet their current and future needs.”
The coastal adaptation policy will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on July 17.