There are a number of measures in place to support coastal communities in dealing with coastal change. These include the following:
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Guidance on establishing what level of risk you face;
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Advice on the issues that development in the coastal zone poses;
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Support for considering whether Rollback is appropriate and if so how to apply; and
- Advice on support available through the Coastal Change Pathfinder to either relocate or adapt to coastal change.
Coastal Change Drop-in Sessions
The Council is holding two coastal change drop-in sessions for members of the public in April 2012. The sessions will run from 3.00pm until 7.00pm on Monday, 16 April (Skipsea Village Hall, Bridlington Road, Skipsea, YO25 8TJ) and Wednesday, 18 April (Aldbrough Village Hall, Garton Road, Aldbrough, HU11 4QA).
The sessions will focus upon the outcomes of the Coastal Change Pathfinder and the ways in which the Council will seek to support vulnerable coastal communities in the future. At the drop-in sessions, visitors will have the opportunity to speak to Council officers who deliver services at the coast, including those who coordinate the Pathfinder and those who monitor coastal erosion. During the events, individuals who have been involved with the Pathfinder will be encouraged to give feedback on the project, regardless of whether or not they have received funding for relocation or adaptation.
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No. If your property or land is affected by coastal erosion you are not eligible for compensation from public funds. Likewise, based on current legislation, you are unable to receive compensation for loss if your coastal location is not defended or is affected by managed realignment.
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To help you establish the level of risk you face from coastal erosion or coastal flood risk the council publishes all of its coastal monitoring data online via the coastal explorer website:
Coastal Explorer (external East Riding website)
If you have any queries regarding this data in relation to your property then please contact us on (01482) 395644 who will be able to provide further advice and guidance.
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Due to the rapidly eroding nature of some of the East Riding’s coastline it is important that inappropriate development in the coastal zone is avoided. However, development in the coastal zone is subject to normal development controls and decisions on development will be based on the most up to date information available.
In the East Riding there are a number of planning policies that have been put in place to help support adaptation to coastal change. In some instances these policies, known as 'Rollback', allow some relaxation of planning restrictions.
If you have any queries regarding development along the coast and whether Rollback is possible please read our planning pages. On these pages you will also be able to find out the best way to apply for Rollback. Please see the next question below for more information about what Rollback is.
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East Riding of Yorkshire Council developed the concept of ‘Rollback’ to address the impact of coastal erosion on homes, farms and caravan parks.
‘Rollback’ looks at how residents or buildings can physically move further inland away from the threat of coastal erosion whilst improving the quality of the local environment and sustaining the communities.
'Rollback' is an alternative to people losing their homes from coastal erosion, or the need to install hard engineering defences. The concept originally focussed on caravan parks (2003-04) and was extended to houses and farmsteads (2005). ‘Rollback’ provides a planning response to reducing the effects of coastal erosion on communities that can be applied to other coastal areas. However, the concept presented a particular challenge to local forward planning policy, in terms of seeking locations for ‘new’ (or replacement) buildings in open countryside.
Emphasis is being placed upon adaptation strategies such as ‘rollback’, in emerging national coastal change policy guidance. This is because they offer a sustainable alternative to hard-engineered coastal defences where they are not considered to be viable. 'Rollback' is just one of a suite of adaptive measures which is considered as part of the East Riding Coastal Change Pathfinder.
The council assesses each application for ‘rollback’ in order to establish the level of risk to the existing property and the suitability of the proposed 'Rollback' plot based on the most up to date coastal monitoring information.
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If your property is at risk from coastal erosion you may be eligible for advice and/or financial assistance through the Coastal Change Pathfinder.
In February 2010 the council secured £1.2 million from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to become a Coastal Change Pathfinder. The Pathfinder is testing approaches to help coastal communities to adapt to coastal change.
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What are the aims of the Coastal Change Pathfinder?
The Pathfinder provides financial support and guidance to those groups and individuals who are identified as being most vulnerable to the effects of coastal erosion. The permanent residents of properties which are at imminent risk from erosion can receive incentives to relocate to safe accommodation. It is important to note that the Pathfinder is there to assist individuals and groups who are seeking to adapt to coastal change, rather than to compensate for loss.
The Enhanced Assistance Package can help residents at risk from coastal erosion to move to safe locations or adapt their properties if appropriate. At this stage, the assistance package is only available to those properties at imminent or higher risk from coastal erosion, as identified by the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP).
The Pathfinder is there to support coastal residents whose primary dwelling is under significant threat from coastal erosion and who genuinely need support to adapt or relocate to safe areas.
Through the Pathfinder the council aims to join up the delivery of services within the coastal zone. To do this an internal coastal officers working group has been established.
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Depending on the level of risk you face you may be able to access the following support. Properties at imminent risk are those located within the maximum loss distance recorded in one year for that location (since recording began). Properties at higher risk fall outside the maximum annual loss area for that location, but fall within an area projected to be lost by 2025. A third level of 'lower' risk has been established for properties that fall beyond the projected 2025 line but within the 2055 projected line. The level of risk is calculated from the erosion data within the Shoreline Management Plan and the Council’s own best practice monitoring data.
Relocation (for properties at imminent, higher and lower risk)
To help relocation away from coastal risk you can get help with:
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Demolition and site restoration costs for your property;
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Relocation costs to move to a safer location;
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A small hardship payment to help offset any out of pocket expenses;
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Payment of up to 50% of a 12-month private tenancy or assistance accessing council accommodation (if appropriate);
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Payment of any management or agent fees relating to private tenancies; and
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Provision of essential furnishings and white goods to help you establish yourself in a new home.
Adaptation (for properties at higher and lower risk)
To help you adapt in your existing location you can get help with:
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All of the relocation items as set out above;
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Access to a 'Buy and lease back' option. Your eligibility for this option is subject to a condition survey being carried out on your property. Buy and lease back enables the council to buy your property and then lease it back to you so that money from the sale of the property is available for relocation when required. Please note this option will only be available in certain circumstances; and
- Access to Erosion Adaptation Assistance Grants: these will be awarded by an independent panel. These grants could provide financial assistance if you feel that you are able to adapt your living environment, rather than move out of your property immediately.
Adaptation is the process of becoming adjusted to new conditions, in a way that allows individuals or communities to become better equipped to deal with the challenges posed by their environment. Examples of coastal adaptation measures include education projects to raise awareness of coastal erosion and the relocation of households from vulnerable coastal places to safe locations.
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The East Riding of Yorkshire Coastal Change Pathfinder will continue until the current funding has been spent. Once the Pathfinder ends, the council will continue to lobby for a long-term package of support for vulnerable individuals who wish to adapt to coastal change. This will be taken forward through our feedback to DEFRA on how successful the Pathfinder has been.
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The Coastal Change Pathfinder Small Grants Fund was initially launched in 2011 to enable individuals, groups and businesses in the East Riding to develop innovative approaches to coastal erosion and coastal and/or estuarine flood risk management. During the first call period in spring 2011, approximately £50,000 of the available £150,000 was allocated to coastal communities. Projects which were allocated funding included a private footpath to serve residential properties affected by the loss of a coastal road, and the installation of door boards and air-brick covers to improve the coastal flood resilience of a residential property.
The second (and final) call period of the Small Grants Fund is one of the final stages of the Coastal Change Pathfinder, a £1.2m project funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and delivered by the Council since February 2010. The second call period is worth £100,000 and applications can be submitted from 13 February 2012. The deadline for this second call has now been extended until 5.00pm on 18 May 2012.
Under the terms of the Small Grants Fund, grants from £500 to a maximum of £30,000 can be awarded to schemes that promote coastal adaptation and coastal and/or estuarine flood resilience. To maximise the benefits of the Defra funding, the second call period of the Small Grants Fund is not open to those already receiving financial assistance through the Coastal Change Pathfinder Enhanced Assistance Package, or the first call period of the Small Grants Fund. Any of the £100,000 which remains unallocated following the second call period of the Small Grants Fund will be defrayed to coastal communities via a coastal change fund based upon existing Coastal Change Pathfinder criteria.
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Application forms and guidance notes are available to download below. The closing date for applications has now been extended to Friday, 18 May 2012. Hard copies of all documents can also be requested from the Council using the general contact details at the foot of this page.
All applications to the Small Grants Fund will be assessed by an independent panel, and final decisions will be sent to applicants in summer 2012.
General information for applicants (pdf 103kb opens in new window)
Business application form (doc 78kb opens in new window)
Group application form (doc 109kb opens in new window)
Individual household application form (doc 68kb opens in new window)
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