House collapsing down a crumbling cliff

Coastal management will become increasingly important as rising sea levels drive the need for coastal community adaptation. Long-term adaptation presents challenges associated with the displacement of residents, as well as the potential loss of natural environments, cultural heritage and infrastructure assets. These factors contribute to significant individual, economic and cultural risks.

Intervention brings further challenges, including financial constraints, the risk of temporary solutions and concerns about long-term adaptability. These complexities are mirrored in the governance structure, where multiple authorities and agencies have overlapping responsibilities.

As the threat of sea-level rise intensifies, adaptation strategies have become contentious, particularly options such as managed realignment or no active intervention. Many coastal communities rely on tourism, raising debates about what adaptation should involve, how risks and costs are distributed, and which mitigation measures — such as insurance — are appropriate.

Palaeontologists and tourists looking for fossils on beach after landslide

Case Study

Sidmouth, Jurassic Coast

Sidmouth and the Devon stretch of the Jurassic Coast were selected as the case study for this project. Sidmouth exemplifies the challenges posed by rising sea levels and increasing coastal erosion, with an observed rise in cliff falls in recent years.

Adaptation measures can directly affect communities through the displacement of residents and businesses and the loss of valued assets. This is particularly significant in a location such as Sidmouth, which relies heavily on tourism, as adaptation strategies may affect the local economy.

Adaptation is further complicated by heritage-specific considerations along the Jurassic Coast, where natural erosion plays a vital role in exposing geological layers and fossils. These tensions are intensified by a complex governance structure involving multiple overlapping authorities and agencies, including the Jurassic Coast Trust, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sidmouth Town Council.

Sidmouth provides an illustrative example of an emerging flashpoint as the community and wider coastal stakeholders navigate the impacts of intensifying coastal erosion.