Engineering and programme management company, CH2M, has played a major role in developing new Coastal Change Adaptation Planning Guidance for England in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The Guidance, which has been published on the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interests Group website, will help Local Planning Authorities better manage coastal change.

Following the publication of the Guidance, planning authorities throughout England will be able to adopt a systematic approach when developing and implementing Coastal Change Management Areas, as required by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This will in turn reduce risk from coastal change by avoiding inappropriate development in vulnerable areas or adding to the impacts of physical change to the coast.

The newly developed Guidance lays out a four-stage approach of best practice techniques to help coastal engineers and planners better identify coastal risks and protect any existing or future developments through improved spatial management policy.

Commenting on the publication of the new Guidance, Alan Frampton, Regional Water Resource & Ecosystem Management Service Leader at CH2M, said:

"We are delighted to have worked alongside East Riding of Yorkshire and DEFRA to develop this new Planning Guidance. With an increasing number of communities affected by climate change and coastal risk it is important that better approaches are taken to minimise risk and future damage to UK coastal communities.  The principles outlined in this new Guidance can be taken and applied on a global level and will hopefully have a positive impact on communities not only in the UK but around the world."