Table 5.1 Selection of shoreline management options for beach/dune systems based on assets at risk

NB This table is indicative only. Selection of the specific approach to adopt will depend also on factors such as coastal processes, site access, availability of materials and labour, acceptability of a commitment to long term management, recreational use of the area, financial resources and the conservation interests of the site.

Assets at risk Open Coast Estuaries
Approaches Indicative costs per 100m length Approaches Indicative costs per 100m length
Coastal habitats and landforms Non-intervention or minor works to enhance sand retention (i.e. fencing, planting, thatching) £0 - £10,000 As Open Coast £0 - £10,000
Low economic value or short residual life (<5 years) (e.g. grazing land, amenity areas, golf rough and fairways, military exercise areas, etc) Abandon or replace assets elsewhere (Adaptive Management), plus minor works to delay losses (i.e. fencing, planting, thatching) £0 - £10,000 As Open Coast. If backshore flood risk area is extensive, inland embankments may be required. £0 - £10,000
Mobile or replaceable (e.g. caravans, golf tees/green, car parks, amenity buildings, etc) Move or rebuild assets inland (Adaptive Management), plus minor works to delay onset of move (i.e. fencing, planting, thatching, beach re-cycling, sand bag or gabion revetments) £0 - £30,000 As Open Coast. If backshore flood risk area is extensive inland embankments may be required. £0 - £20,000
Discrete assets of moderate to high value and medium to long residual life (>5 years) Adaptive Management for main frontage, plus:
  • Rock or gabion headlands,
  • Nearshore breakwaters,
  • Artificial reefs, plus minor works to delay erosion between structures (i.e. fencing, planting,thatching, beach re-cycling, gabion revetments)
 £20,000 - £120,000
  • Rock or gabion headlands
  • Groynes to deflect flows
  • Plus minor works to delay erosion between structures (i.e. fencing, planting, thatching, beach re-cycling, sand bag or gabion revetments)
  • May also require backshore flood embankments if unprotected assets are on low ground
 £10,000 - £50,000
Moderate economic value or medium residual life (5-25 years) (Low density housing, roads, large caravan sites, military installations, etc)
  • Series of nearshore breakwaters
  • Rock groynes (on mixed sediment beaches where littoral drift is active and downdrift erosion is not an issue)
  • Beach nourishment (with future top-ups/re-cycling, and possibly buried gabion or rock revetment)
  • Rock revetment (gabions or timber if a 10-15 year life is acceptable)
  • Plus minor works to enhance appearance/habitat (i.e. fencing, planting, thatching, re-cycling)
NB if erosion is long term backshore assets should not be enhanced or replaced, thereby allowing for ultimate abandonment 		£50,000 - £250,000
  • Rock groynes to deflect flow(possibly with beach nourishment and future top-ups)
  • Dredging and re-cycling to after flow regime
  • Gabion or rock revetment
  • Plus minor works to delay losses between structures (i.e. fencing, planting, thatching, beach re-cycling, gabion revetments)
 £20,000 - £100,000
High economic value and long residual life (>25 years) (High density housing, railways, main roads, industrial facilities, power stations, etc) Large rock revetments (possibly with groynes and/or beach nourishment with future top-ups/re-cycling), plus minor works to enhance appearance/habitat (i.e. fencing, planting, thatching, recycling) £100,000 - £400,000 l Large gabion or rock revetment with groynes to deflect flows (possibly with beach nourishment and future top ups) £50,000 - £200,000