Who looks after the coast?
Cornwall’s beautiful coastline is an asset of significant cultural and economic value to our residents, local communities and visitors. The Cornish coast is a dynamic system, affected by the movement of waves, tides, wind and sediment. Several organisations are responsible for managing Cornwall’s 422 miles of coastline. The Environment Agency is the lead body for protecting our coastline from flooding. Local authorities, acting as the coast protection authority, lead on managing coastal erosion risk. Coast protection authorities work under the overview of the EA.
| Organisation | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
|
Cornwall Council |
|
|
Environment Agency |
|
Cornwall Council's responsibilities
As a coastal risk management authority, the Council has permissive powers to protect the coast from erosion and encroachment by the sea. These powers come from the Coast Protection Act 1949. The Act requires the Council to inspect and maintain coast protection structures in its ownership. These inspections aim to prevent erosion and damage, in the interests of public safety.
The legislation does not make it a statutory requirement to defend the coast. But, most coastal councils choose to be active in coast protection.
Reporting damage at the coast
If you notice damage to a coastal structure, you can report it on our interactive map:
Report damage to a coastal structure using the interactive map
Please note, you must be logged in to use this tool.
The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP)
The main policy document for the future management of the coast is the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP).
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Coastal Advisory Group (CISCAG) manages the SMP's:
- implementation
- governance
- further development
CISCAG reports to the South West Coast Group.
The South West Coast Group represents coastal management authorities. The region includes organisations from Dorset, around Cornwall's coast and up to Somerset. They then report to the South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee ((SWRFCC). They report to Central Government through Defra.