Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 [and 55(1)] of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Sutton Hoo and Methersgate, Suffolk (VR23)
Updated 20 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-felixstowe-ferry-to-bawdsey/notice-by-the-secretary-of-state-under-section-52-and-551-of-the-national-parks-and-access-to-the-countryside-act-1949-sutton-hoo-and-methersgate
Introduction
On 9 December 2020 Natural England submitted a compendium of coastal access reports relating to the stretch of land between Felixstowe Ferry to Bawdsey 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 7 May 2024 the Secretary of State gave notice under Section 52(2) that the proposals for parts four and five of the Felixstowe Ferry to Bawdsey stetch were approved (“the approved coastal access provisions”).
On 14 May 2025, 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 in Suffolk, at Sutton Hoo and Methersgate.
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 Sutton Hoo - Natural England’s coastal access variation report submitted to the Secretary of State on 14 May 2025
b. proposed changes to the England Coast Path at Methersgate - Natural England’s coastal access variation report submitted to the Secretary of State on 14 May 2025
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 July 2025
In this notice –
(a) “objection” means an objection about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 3 of the Schedule; and
(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-felixstowe-ferry-to-bawdsey:
a. a copy of this notice
Natural England has also made available here:
b. Proposed changes to the England Coast Path in Suffolk at Sutton Hoo and Methersgate – 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/VR23/R/1/FFB0453
Organisation/ person making representation: The Ramblers
Route section(s) specific to this representation: FFB-VR23-S001
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 Ramblers’ support of the proposed variance and thanks them for their feedback.
Representation number: MCA/VR23/R/2/FFB0453
Organisation/ person making representation: The Ramblers
Route section(s) specific to this representation: FFB-VR23-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 Ramblers’ support of the proposed variance and thanks them for their feedback.