Skip to content
Feedback button

Shoreline Management Plan 1999 SMP1


The SMP1 covers the coastline of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. SMP2 superseded SMP1.

Find out more about SMP2 here

The first round of SMPs were carried out in the late 1990s. Government guidance at the time suggested SMP’s be reviewed and updated (if necessary) approximately every 5 years. There were four initial SMP's (SMP1) covering the coastline of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Each plan divided the coastline into lengths, termed 'areas'. These areas facilitated easier reference to information and assessment of issues. To define the areas, an initial assessment of coastal processes was carried out, to ensure that any given area had a single specific physical characteristic.

Each area subdivided into multiple 'units' based on coastal processes and usage. This enabled strategic coastal defence policies to be developed, taking into account the interactions of any processes. For example, policy development considered sediment supply, transport and deposition mechanisms, as well as demands from the natural and developed environments.

For each unit, one of the following strategic coastal defence options was decided on:
  • Do-nothing
  • Retreat the existing line
  • Hold the existing line
  • Advance the existing line

These options were collated with the background information to form the SMP.

The Local Authorities adopted these plans. Subsequent coastal defence decisions followed these policies until the introduction of SMP2 in 2011. Below are all the documents from SMP1. These documents are no longer current policy. They have been superseded by SMP2.

Note: All documents within the SMP1 links are PDF files scanned from paper documents.  Each document outlines the most appropriate action for their stretch of coastline.

SMP1 Rame Head to Lizard Point

SMP1 Lizard Point to Lands End 

SMP1 Lands End to Hartland Point

SMP1 Isles of Scilly

Last Updated:

18/08/2025

Need help?

Most issues can be resolved online, it's the quickest and most convenient way to get help.