Ouse to Seaford Head coastal defence strategy
Updated 20 June 2014
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The River Ouse to Seaford Head coastal defence strategy sets out a framework for managing flood and erosion risk for the next 100 years on the River Ouse from the A27 road bridge to Newhaven, and the coastline between Newhaven and Seaford.
The Environment Agency formally approved and adopted the Ouse to Seaford Head coastal defence strategy in June 2012.
The strategy recommends maintaining the existing river banks and coastal defences.
While they were developing the strategy, the Environment Agency investigated whether they could remove or alter some of the river banks upstream of Newhaven, to allow water to spill onto the floodplain. This could reduce the cost of maintaining the river banks and also create wetland habitat.
Latest update
The Environment Agency are carrying out further investigations and monitoring to determine what effect removing or altering the upstream banks might have on downstream areas.
They are gathering data on the existing defences and river bed materials. In 10 years’ time, they will begin to review the strategy, using this data to identify how to best manage flood and erosion risk for the future.
Community engagement
Local communities have been involved with developing the strategy since 2005.
The Environment Agency developed the recommended options with the help of the feedback they received from communities in the lower River Ouse catchment and on the coastline between Newhaven and Seaford.
Contact
For more information, and to receive copies of the reports, email: SSDEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk