COASTAL

10 million people live in one of the 1,114 villages, towns and cities that are based across the UKs 7,723 miles of coastline. Each of these places are unique but they share a common thread of challenge and opportunity.

By almost every metric available, coastal areas generally fare disproportionately worse than their inland equivalents. Yet, they are rich in community, heritage, natural beauty and opportunities. Opportunities that match national interests such as food and energy security, nature recovery, and defence but also other markets like tourism, education, R&D and tourism.

Our team is experienced in all aspects of coastal placemaking and stewardship, including issues relating to key coastal infrastructure such as ports, harbours, waterfront brownfield land, sea beds, offshore energy, and heritage assets. We also advise on coastal defence schemes, regeneration projects, key environmental issues, public law and all other elements of placemaking (after all, coastal places are more than just the sea front).

Our commitment to coastal places is unmatched in the legal industry, with recent projects including providing research to the government on how LGR will impact coastal places, suggested amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act to ensure mayoral authorities including coastal places in their decision making, and several coastal articles in publications such as the Municipal Journal, BE News, and Local Government Lawyer.

How we can help

Our advice covers all aspects of coastal stewardship including:

• Waterfront development and regeneration

• Town centre development and housing developments

• Consents including planning permission, marine licences, harbour orders

• Marine spatial planning issues

• Environmental Impact Assessments

• Contamination issues

• CPOs

• Biodiversity Net Gain and Marine Net Gain (latter not yet in force)

• Seabed leases

• Policy arguments

• Litigation

• Flood defence schemes (advance or hold the line) or adaption measures (managed realignment or no active intervention)

• Environmental pollution and other issues

• All property issues