Shoreline Management Policy

Barmouth is covered by the West of Wales Shoreline Management Plan 2 (SMP2) (2011). The current policy for Barmouth North Promenade is to ‘hold the line’ in the short term. The SMP2 identifies significant pressures from sea-level rise, and suggests the present alignment is likely to become increasingly difficult to sustain,  with a change in policy to ‘managed realignment’ for the medium and long term. “Short term” spans to 2025, “medium term” to 2055 and “long term” to 2105.  

SMPs are high-level with indicative timescales. Detailed studies found coastal erosion and flood risk interacts with adjacent Llanaber and Barmouth South frontages (both long term ‘hold the line’). With modelling and appraisal, the case to invest to improve defences to 2075 has been proven. This approach is contrary to the existing shoreline management Policy for this frontage; therefore the current policy approach is being challenged.  

In the long term there is a choice of options ranging from hold the line with investment, to maintain or improve defences, to decommissioning all/some of the existing promenade to enable managed realignment (below right). Monitoring the performance of the defences is planned. The findings will inform the case for further investment and the long term approach. 

Further details on the option appraisal and studies carried out to date, and how that relates to SMP Policy,  can be found in the following document.

To gain statutory approval, the Proposed Development will require a change to the SMP2 policy from Managed Realignment to Hold the Line to at least 2075. A Policy Change Subgroup has been set up by the West Wales Coastal Group to manage this change in line with their change management  guidance  WCGF_Majorpolicychange

The documents used to support the current SMP policy challenge are available below