regeneration, coastal adaptation, localism christine doel, sqw
TRANSCRIPT
Regeneration, Coastal Adaptation, Localism
Christine Doel, SQW
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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?
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What this means in practice (i)
Socio-economic characteristics of coastal
communities
Regeneration imperatives and responses
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What this means in practice (ii)
Socio-economic characteristics of coastal
communities
Regeneration imperatives and responses
Availability of public sector funding
Community / private sector resources and capacity
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What this means in practice (iii)
Coastal adaptation imperatives and responses
Processes of coastal change
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What this means in practice (iv)
Availability of public sector funding
Community / private sector resources and capacity
Coastal adaptation imperatives and responses
Processes of coastal change
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What this means in practice (v)
Socio-economic characteristics of coastal
communities
Regeneration imperatives and responses
Availability of public sector funding
Community / private sector resources and capacity
Coastal adaptation imperatives and responses
Processes of coastal change
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What this means in practice (vi)
Socio-economic characteristics of coastal
communities
Regeneration imperatives and responses
Availability of public sector funding
Community / private sector resources and capacity
Coastal adaptation imperatives and responses
Processes of coastal change
?
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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
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Our typology of coastal places
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Our two case study “clusters”
Great Yarmouth, Caister, Hemsby and Winterton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea, Jaywick, Brightlingsea, West Mersea
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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?
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The smaller places with acute regeneration and adaptation challenges
Extremely complicated sets of local circumstancesSome 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)
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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
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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?
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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
Future planning
in coastal places
Localism Act
National Planning
Policy Framewo
rk
Marine and
Coastal Access
Act
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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
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Contact
Christine Doel
Director
SQW
t. 01223 209400
w. www.sqw.co.uk