King Charles III England Coast Path: Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Suffolk.
Map of the stretch
Natural England has begun to investigate how to improve coastal access along a 60 km stretch of the Suffolk coast between Aldeburgh and Hopton-on-Sea.
Officers from Suffolk County Council are providing Natural England with expert local advice and helping to make sure there is full consultation with local interests during the development of the route.
The route is expected to follow the Suffolk Coast Path where this meets everyone’s needs, but have scope to vary this where necessary.
Stage of progress
Stage 4: Determine
On 29 January 2020, Natural England submitted a collection of reports to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs setting out the proposals for improved access to the Norfolk and Suffolk coast between Aldeburgh and Hopton-on-Sea.
The period for making representations and objections about the reports closed at midnight on Wednesday 25 March 2020. The reports are still available to view.
Objections are forwarded for consideration by an independent planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The inspector will make recommendations to the Secretary of State in respect of each one.
Natural England may not make any further changes to the reports as a result of the representations and objections, but will make comments about them for consideration by the Secretary of State and, in the case of objections, the appointed person (an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate).
The Secretary of State will consider all the representations and objections before making a decision about Natural England’s reports. The reports in the collection may get approval at the same time. Some of them may need further consideration.
You can see the current status of the collection in the table.
| Report number and title | Stage 4 | Stage 5 |
|---|---|---|
| AHS 1: Aldeburgh to Sizewell | 23 June 2022 | |
| AHS 2: Sizewell to Dunwich | 23 June 2022 | |
| AHS 3: Dunwich to Southwold | 23 June 2022 | |
| AHS 4: Southwold to Pakefield | yet to be determined | |
| AHS 5: Pakefield to Lowestoft | 23 June 2022 | |
| AHS 6: Lowestoft to Hopton-on-Sea | 23 June 2022 |
Variation reports on approved sections
Sometimes it’s necessary to change sections of an approved route. The proposed changes are published as variation reports. Anyone can comment (make a representation) on these proposals. Affected landowners and occupiers can make an objection.
Proposals to change the approved route at Azure Seas Holiday Village Corton and Dunwich Heath (VR21)
On 23 October 2024, Natural England submitted a variation report to the Secretary of State setting out proposals to change the approved route of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Suffolk at Azure Seas Holiday Village Corton and Dunwich Heath (VR21).
Azure Seas Holiday Village Corton: the changes relate to the approved AHS 6: Lowestoft to Hopton-on-Sea. The alignment through the site is on a path that had been provided by the site owner for residents. Pre-establishment survey work found that new holiday lodges have been built on and around the path. The new site owners have already provided a replacement path for residents and support its use for KCIIIECP.
Dunwich Heath: the changes relate to the approved AHS 2: Sizewell to Dunwich. A short section of unused public footpath will be re-opened as site access for nearby KCIIIECP establishment works. It has been realised that, after the vegetation has been cleared, it would create a more direct, and step-free route.
You can now read the report.
Representations and objections must reach Natural England by midnight on Wednesday 18 December 2024.
Next steps
Stage 5: Open
Once the Secretary of State has approved 1 or more of the reports, Natural England will start work with Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils on preparing the route for public use.
The first step will be to contact owners and occupiers of the affected land to discuss the design and location of any new infrastructure which is required such as signs and gates.
When preparations are complete, new access rights will be brought into force along the route and adjoining spreading room.
Find out more about the England Coast Path
See information about all stretches in preparation around England’s coast.
The coastal access scheme gives details of the process being followed to improve access to the coast.
Contact the coastal access team
Contact Natural England with any comments, suggestions or queries you have about improving coastal access.
Email: eastcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 0208 026 1753
England Coast Path Team
Natural England
Floor 5
Quay House
2 East Station Road
Fletton Quays
Peterborough
PE2 8YY
See the map below for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of the east of England.
Updates to this page
Last updated 23 October 2024 + show all updates
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Page updated with information about the proposals to change the approved route at Azure Seas Holiday Village Corton and Dunwich Heath (variation report VR21).
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 5 of the 6 reports have received Secretary of State approval.
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Page updated to show this stretch is now at stage 4.
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Changed expected date for publication of the reports to early 2020.
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Removed the sentence giving a date for when access is expected to be ready. Publication of the report is expected in autumn 2019.
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Publication of report now expected in spring 2019. Access expected to be ready in 2020.
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Updated page to show that work on this stretch has reached stage 2 and 3.
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First published.