The spatial response
Coastal renaissance
An environmentally rich, scenic and economically diverse landscape
The coast of the East of England is among the most environmentally rich, scenic and economically diverse landscapes in the country. This covers areas of outstanding natural diversity, major tourism spots as well as some of the UK's busiest ports. It is one of the region's most valuable assets.
The coast is also home to some of the East of England’s most deprived and economically under-performing communities. Our coastal communities and economies face changes and pressures that, although different in character, are as challenging and far reaching as those facing communities directly affected by growth. In addition, coastal and estuarine environments cannot be taken for granted as fixed regional assets, and there is a pressing need to address some significant challenges associated with climate change.
The region's coastal towns are under-performing against a range of economic performance indicators. They are failing to act as strong employment magnets or to exert a significant influence on their wider hinterlands. The towns of Clacton-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Southend-on-Sea all share these challenges. Importantly, however, whilst Clacton and Southend receive growth point funding, the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft urban areas do not, and are therefore identified as the principal regeneration priority area for the region. The settlements of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft share a number of challenges. Economic restructuring has left a legacy of low employment, low population growth and low skilled jobs. 1st East, the urban regeneration company (URC) for Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft was formed in 2005 and the regional economic strategy supports the aspirations of this body to address the high levels of unemployment and social deprivation through the regeneration of large areas of physical dereliction, creating new employment and social opportunities in the two towns.
Regeneration to improve the social and economic well-being of our coastal towns is essential, but it is important to avoid inappropriate development within areas which are at potential risk from flooding or erosion. The government’s strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management, Making Space for Water, has a central theme for the coast of learning to work with, and adapt to, the natural processes which affect our shoreline. The planning system has a key role to play here by ensuring that current and future risks are taken into account in development and growth plans for the coastal zone. Such plans must be prepared with the full range of sustainable development objectives in mind. However, this has to be viewed in the context of the ability of the government via its agencies to fund mitigation and defence.
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