Adapting to coastal erosion - evaluation of rollback and leaseback schemes in coastal change pathfinder projects

This project seeks to provide evidence of whether rollback and buy / leaseback schemes are feasible and desirable options for local authorities affected by coastal change.

• From: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 23 February 2021

• Category: Policy, governance and funding
• Topics: Adaptation, Asset performance, Behavioural change, Coast, Coastal erosion, Community participation, Partnership working
• Project status: Completed
• Project code: FD2679
• Date of completion: 31 March 2015

Documents

Adapting to coastal erosion - evaluation of rollback and leaseback schemes in coastal change pathfinder projects - technical report (1.5MB) PDF

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Details

Objectives

This project seeks to provide Defra and other organisations with evidence of whether rollback and buy / leaseback schemes are feasible and desirable options for local authorities affected by coastal change. These schemes are likely to be considered where traditional coastal defences are not deemed appropriate or affordable.

Five Pathfinder projects that have investigated rollback as a coastal adaptation option were considered in this study:

• East Riding of Yorkshire
• North Norfolk
• Scarborough
• Scratby
• Waveney

The project investigates the take up of rollback schemes and the success of the schemes where they have been implemented.

This report aims to provide:

• evidence as to whether rollback and buy / leaseback are possible options for local authorities affected by coastal change where the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) recommends a policy of managed realignment or no active intervention
• useful evidence on rollback and buy / leaseback for local authorities working through their options
• options for new approaches for local authorities adapting to coastal change

Outcomes

Evidence from the Pathfinder projects suggests that rollback is a feasible adaptation option so long as the right policies and mechanisms are in place. Rollback options may also be cost-beneficial based on the economic assessment.

Buy-in at the community level can be more difficult to achieve. However, effective communication can increase awareness and understanding of the options available in the wider context of coastal erosion issues.

The problems encountered by the Pathfinder projects provide valuable lessons for other local authorities in terms of potential issues and how to overcome them.

This project ran from 2014 to 2015 at a cost of £41,476.

Published 23 February 2021