Lewes District Council

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Planning
Lewes District Council
Southover House
Southover Road
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 1AB

Tel: 01273 484420
planning@lewes.gov.uk
Fax: 01273 484452
Minicom 01273 484488

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Coast Protection

Sea waves spashing on beachWe manage coast protection in the district with other agencies stretching from Saltdean in the west to Cuckmere in the east, some 14.5km of shoreline.

Our responsibility for coast protection is to take measures against erosion and not safeguarding against flooding from the sea. This restricts our coverage to 9.7km of shoreline.

Our coast defence works focus on the frontage from Saltdean to Peacehaven. We have a 50 year strategy covering major renewal programmes for existing defences.

The cliffs between Peacehaven Heights and Newhaven, and at Seaford Head, do not have any coast defences, nor are any proposed. In these locations, there is little or no development and the cliffs will continue to erode naturally.

Other Agencies

Newhaven Port and Properties are responsible for Newhaven Harbour and the mouth of the Ouse, which they maintain for navigation purposes.

The Environment Agency is responsible for Seaford Bay from the mouth of the Ouse along to Splash Point, Seaford. On this frontage, a shingle beach forms the primary defence against the sea.

The EA recycles shingle annually to ensure the beach provides good protection for the town.  At the far eastern end of our coastal frontage the EA also maintains the beach at Cuckmere Haven.

The Channel Coast Observatory is an initiative to provide strategic coastal monitoring for the whole coastline of South-East England from Dorset around to the Thames Estuary.

The CCO co-ordinate and manage a range of databases on coastal conditions including wave data, aerial photographs and beach profiles. These assist work by partner organisations.

Management

Management of the Sussex Coast between Selsey Bill and Beachy Head is guided by a Shoreline Management Plan.

This was first approved in 1997 and then updated in 2005/6.  This Plan will provide a framework for the coast for the rest of the Century.

Most of the coast consists of high chalk cliffs where the South Downs meet the sea. There are low lying areas around the estuary of the River Ouse between Newhaven and Seaford.

The cliffs have been subject to erosion by wind, wave and tide for many centuries. Erosion rates are typically around 0.3 metres (1 foot) per year but do vary from place to place. 

The erosion is intermittent, with significant cliff falls followed by several years of stability.

PDF
PDF Works Access Plan - Groynes 1 to 6 (1.62mb)