Regeneration, Coastal Adaptation, Localism

1. Regeneration, Coastal Adaptation, Localism Christine Doel, SQW

2. Key challenges facing our coastal communities • Some of the most deprived communities in socio-economic terms… • Some of the most vulnerable communities in terms of environmental changes… • How do these two observations “stack up”? • Are there answers and solutions? • How may this be changing given the Localism Act, the Marine and Coastal Access Act and the emerging National Planning Policy Framework?

3. What this means in practice (i) Regeneration imperatives and responses Socio-economic characteristics of coastal communities

4. What this means in practice (ii) Regeneration imperatives and responses Availability of public sector funding Community / private sector resources and capacity Socio-economic characteristics of coastal communities

5. What this means in practice (iii) Coastal adaptation imperatives and responses Processes of coastal change

6. What this means in practice (iv) Coastal adaptation imperatives and responses Availability of public sector funding Community / private sector resources and capacity Processes of coastal change

7. What this means in practice (v) Regeneration imperatives and responses Coastal adaptation imperatives and responses Availability of public sector funding Community / private sector resources and capacity Socio-economic characteristics of coastal communities Processes of coastal change

8. What this means in practice (vi) ? Regeneration imperatives and responses Coastal adaptation imperatives and responses Availability of public sector funding Community / private sector resources and capacity Socio-economic characteristics of coastal communities Processes of coastal change

9. Understanding the East of England context • In socio-economic terms, coastal communities in the East of England are very varied • Some affluent communities… • But Jaywick was identified as the most deprived LSOA in England in IMD2010

10. Our typology of coastal places

11. Our two case study “clusters” Great Yarmouth, Caister, Hemsby and Winterton-on-Sea Clacton-on-Sea, Jaywick, Brightlingsea, West Mersea

12. The “larger places” – Great Yarmouth and Clacton-on-Sea • Long term Shoreline Management Plan commitment to “hold the line”… • “Technical fixes” mean that regeneration strategies have largely been shielded from the adaptation challenge: develop – defend – develop • But the technical fixes are expensive… and increasingly unaffordable… • Over the last decade, the model for regeneration has largely been housing led – challenging in current economic circumstances • Are new solutions emerging with new economic purposes?

13. The smaller places with acute regeneration and adaptation challenges • Extremely complicated sets of local circumstances • Some fundamental tensions • e.g. how to sustain the tourism sector when the dunes on which caravans and chalets are located are being eroded away • Development of new housing is not the automatic solution – and it is increasingly difficult given competing imperatives • Levels and forms of community engagement are variable – in some cases, issues are not even aired because of deep-seated fears (e.g. fuelling housing blight)

14. The smaller places with less acute adaptation and regeneration challenges • Locally, progress is more straightforward when: • there are more resources within the community • environmental pressures are less immediate • There are some lessons to be learned in terms of community-led responses

15. Implications (1): Coastal communities need viable and appropriate economic roles • What is the economic future for our coastal communities? • tourism will continue to be important – but low paid and seasonal employment is problematic • is the increasingly old population a “problem” or an “opportunity”? • to what extent is renewable energy part of the solution? • can environmental assets foster real and sustainable economic growth? • can coastal communities become “places of sustainable enterprise”? • Will Local Enterprise Partnerships take coastal places seriously?

16. Implications (2): Changes to the planning system are very important in coastal settings • Changes are very recent (and on-going) – consequences are as yet uncertain • Potentially they provide additional scope for locally-determined solutions (e.g. through neighbourhood planning)… • …but this assumes a high level of resourcing and engagement

17. Implications (3): Nature and extent of community engagement is important • “Reconciling” regeneration and coastal adaptation is not easy – and in some situations it may ultimately be impossible in situ • Communities need to be properly involved, recognising regeneration as “renewal from within” • In our case studies, it appeared to work best where: • communities were engaged properly and at an early stage • information was provided in a digestible and consistent form • “local champions” had animated the debate locally, working with local government • But engagement of this nature needs some level of resourcing, particularly where socio-economic issues are acute

18. Contact Christine Doel Director SQW t. 01223 209400 e. cmdoel@sqw.co.uk w. www.sqw.co.uk