Content

The Seaton Beach Management Plan has four main aims:

  1. Ensure Seaton’s Coastal Defences provide an appropriate Standard of Service
  2. Determine an appropriate management regime for Axmouth spit
  3. To compliment Seaton Town Council’s vision for the Seafront
  4. Carry out (1), (2) and (3) in an integrated, justifiable and sustainable way.

Project Objectives

a) Develop a Beach Management Plan for Seaton to include both Seaton seafront and Axmouth spit, in line with the methods and format consistent with the current CIRIA Beach Management Manual (BMM), to ensure that there is a robust plan for managing the beaches, spit and associated beach management structures (i.e. existing structures and any new ones which may be required and recommended) in a sustainable way.

b) Review the rate of erosion from Seaton Hole to West Walk for the purposes of updating NCERM mapping

c) Carry out a detailed inspection and engineering assessment to determine residual life and the current and future standard of protection of defences along the Eastern side of the River Axe including the breakwater

d) Determine the risks associated with Axmouth spit and the effect of its evolution on flood risk in the Axe

e) Review the dredging activities within Axmouth harbour and determine the most appropriate method (including disposal of arisings) in light of the draft Axe Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), management regime of the Axe spit and future operational needs of the harbour.

f) Determine the preferred integrated, justifiable and sustainable coastal defence management options that:

  • Maintains a minimum of a 1 in 200 AEP Standard of Service for Seaton and Axmouth seafront defences;
  • Enhances the amenity of Seaton seafront, improves access to the beach and compliment Seaton Town Council’s vision for the seafront;
  • Does not compromise or adversely impact the integrity of the environmental features of the Dorset and East Devon UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lyme Bay and Torbay SAC, Sidmouth to West Bay Special Area of Conservation, Axmouth to Lyme Regis SSSI or the Sidmouth to Beer Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest;
  • Ensures that monitoring undertaken as part of the South West Coastal Monitoring Programme is aligned to the requirements of the preferred option.