Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 [and 55(1)] of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Corton and Dunwich Heath (VR21)
Updated 19 November 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coastal-access-section-52-notice-for-aldeburgh-to-hopton-on-sea/notice-by-the-secretary-of-state-under-section-52-and-551-of-the-national-parks-and-access-to-the-countryside-act-1949-corton-and-dunwich-heath
Introduction
On 29 January 2020 Natural England submitted a compendium of coastal access reports relating to the stretch of land between Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under section 51 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (“the 1949 Act”), pursuant to its duty under section 296(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”).
On 23 June 2022 the Secretary of State gave notice under Section 52(2) that the proposals for parts two and six of the Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea stetch were approved (“the approved coastal access provisions”).
On 23 October 2024, under section 55(1) of the 1949 Act, Natural England submitted a coastal access variation report relating to proposed changes to the approved coastal access provisions (“the coastal access variation report”) to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The coastal access variation report proposed changes to the approved coastal access provisions at Corton and Dunwich Heath.
In reaching their determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:
a. Proposed changes to the England Coast Path at Azure Seas Holiday Village, Corton - Natural England’s coastal access variation report submitted to the Secretary of State on 23 October 2024.
b. Proposed changes to the England Coast Path at Dunwich Heath - Natural England’s coastal access variation report submitted to the Secretary of State on 23 October 2024.
c. In accordance with paragraph 16(1)(d) of the Schedule, a representation made by a person within paragraph 2(2)(b) to (f) of the Schedule, and Natural England’s comments on that representation which it sent to the Secretary of State in January 2025.
In this notice –
(a) “objection” means an objection about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 3 of the Schedule
(b) “representation” means a representation about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 7 of the Schedule
Secretary of State’s approval of coastal access proposals
The Secretary of State has determined to approve in full the proposals for the route and associated coastal margin as set out in the coastal access variation report, in relation to which no objections were made.
The Secretary of State’s additional conclusions and observations on representations are at Annex A.
The approved variation to the route is set out at Annex B.
The Secretary of State has made available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/england-coast-path-aldeburgh-to-hopton-on-sea:
a. a copy of this notice
Natural England has also made available here:
b. proposed changes to the England Coast Path at Corton and Dunwich Heath – the coastal access variation report
Annex A: Conclusions and observations on representations
The Secretary of State has considered, in relation to the coastal access variation report, the following representations made under paragraph 7 of the Schedule.
Representation number: MCA/VR21/R/1/AHS1508
Organisation/ person making representation: National Trust (Dunwich Heath landowner)
Route section(s) specific to this representation: AHS-VR21-S003
Other reports within stretch to which this representation also relates: N/A
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
The Secretary of State acknowledges the National Trusts support of the proposed variance and thanks them for their positive feedback.