Establishment of the East of England Coastal Initiative
East of England
PROJECT TEAM & PARTNERS
- GO-East
- EEDA
- EERA
- Norfolk County Council
- English Partnerships
- Environment Agency
- Coast-net,
- Sustainability East
- Suffolk Coastal District Council Natural England
FUNDING
Mixture - partners have provided financial and time inputs. Match funding for some of the inputs by the IMCORE Interreg project
TIMESCALE
5 years
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The coast of the East of England is among the most
environmentally rich, most scenic and economically diverse
landscapes in the country. It is an extremely complex and dynamic
environment. It is one of the region's most valuable - and
often underrated and underutilised- assets.
The coast is also home to some of our most deprived 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.
The coast and its communities also need to address some significant
challenges associated with climate change; a fragile, changing
coastline; and significant areas of high-value agricultural land
and rare habitats vulnerable to flooding and salting.
These three observations led to the birth of the East of England
Coastal Initiative, a multi agency project, initiated by the
Government Office, and steered by a partnership. It aims to
integrate responses to coastal change and coastal deprivation and
build a better future for those communities using coastal assets.
It is divided into three phases - evidence, vision and action.
The Initiative is currently in the evidence-gathering stage.
PROJECT TARGETS
- Agree shared evidence base - partially achieved - evidence-base pulled together with high degree of stakeholder interaction; considered by Coastal conference; further evidence to be gathered as result;
- Provide input to the Review of the Regional Spatial Strategy - in progress - spatial planning workstream led by Norfolk County Council using evidence developed by the Initaitive;
- Integrate policies at national, regional and local level - all in progress - Initiative project manager on national policy-making boards; Norfolk leading RSS input; Local Authorities represented on Initiative Board to ensure join-up at local level.
LESSONS LEARNT & APPLICABILITY IN OTHER SITUATIONS
The Costal Initiative is a pioneering initiative, which could become a benchmark for the rest of the country. The project brings together national, regional and local partners to collectively solve some key issues facing our coast. It is being closely watched by other regions, keen to learn from the region's experience and expertise.
PUBLICISED INFORMATION/MEDIA COVERAGE
In terms of media coverage, the Coastal Initiative event achieved coverage in the majority of the targeted media partners, including Eastern Daily Press, East Anglian Daily Times, Lowestoft Journal, BBC Radio Norfolk and Suffolk, and Beach FM. BBC Look East also mentioned the event. Articles include:
Delegates at a conference in Lowestoft today (Oct 13) will be discussing the East of England Coastal Initiative, which was launched to address issues such as erosion, deprivation and unemployment. Barbara Follett, minister for the East of England, said the local population faced some 'very real challenges', particularly the pockets of deprivation found in many communities in the region and the difficulties people had accessing transport, jobs and health services. Ms Follett is seeking support for the initiative from key government departments. (Eastern Daily Press)
The Coastal Initiative conference secured branded and was one of the decentralised event of the European week of Regions and Cities Open Days.
CONTACT DETAILS
Margaret Read
Tel: 01223 372506
E-mail: Margaret.read@goeast.gsi.gov.uk
