A controversial plan to deliberately breach a Wells flood bank has been discarded by environmental planners in response to a host of objections from landowners and townspeople.

The Environment Agency (EA) is finalising a draft shoreline management plan (SMP) designed to help the North Norfolk coast adapt to rising sea levels during the next century.

One of the ideas put forward was a £4.2m scheme to reconstruct Wells’ eastern defences further inland, allowing land behind the existing east bank to flood. (more…)

One of north Norfolk’s major landowners has voiced “real concerns” about long-term plans aimed at managing the impact of climate change along its coastal borders.

Senior Environment Agency (EA) planners are finalising an updated shoreline management plan (SMP) for the 75km stretch of coast from Hunstanton to Kelling.

A four-month public consultation on the draft ideas was completed in November with feedback due to be taken into account before final plans are presented to councils for adoption in March.

But a response from the Holkham Estate raises concern about the impact on farmland and freshwater habitats and says the consultation should be extended to allow direct dialogue on any changes made. (more…)