English communities most under threat from coastal erosion by 2100 – mapped

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21 erosion hotspots

One Home has created an interactive map to highlight the 21 English coastal communities most at risk of coastal erosion, which is accelerating because of the climate crisis. These include seaside villages in Cornwall, Cumbria, Dorset, East Yorkshire, Essex, Kent, the Isle of Wight, Northumberland, Norfolk and Sussex, amounting to 2,218 properties that are together worth around £584 million.

For each erosion hotspot, the map shows a projection for how much of the coast might be lost by 2100.We have assumed all shoreline management policies will be delivered, which is unlikely due to funding constraints, so the number of homes impacted is likely to be far higher.

The map and the Coastlines at risk page, also contain key information on the relevant Shoreline Management Plan, plus estimates of how many local properties are at risk, and their average current value.

Shoreline Management Plans

In England, one of three shoreline management policies is assigned to each stretch of coastline depending on the most sustainable and cost-effective option. These policies are listed below and are colour-coded on the map:

1. Hold the Line (HTL): maintaining or upgrading the level of protection provided by sea defences – blue
2. Managed Realignment (MR): moving or allowing the shoreline to retreat or advance in a managed way, and creating tidal habitats where appropriate – yellow
3. No Active Intervention (NAI): a decision not to invest in providing or maintaining sea defences. This requires engagement and adaptation where it affects communities – red

In layperson’s terms, these policies are often referred to as defend, retreat or abandon.

SMPs are categorised according to timescale – short term (2005-2025), medium term (2026-2055) and long term (2056-2100). The One Home map highlights the long term plans only to 2100.

The map was compiled using data already in the public domain. To find out the data sources please see the data page.

How to use the map

The map must be viewed in conjunction with its terms of use and data warnings below the map.

1. To see the list of coastlines where communities are most at risk, click on the Bookmarks tab on the top right corner of the map.
2. Click on your chosen coastline to zoom in to the 2100 erosion zone.
3. Click on the erosion zone to find out more about the shoreline management plan, property risks, and estimated 2100 erosion extent in each location.

Data Sources:

National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping; Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right; NCERM is usable under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence

Ordnance Survey ® OpenMap – Local Buildings; Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright & database rights (2022)

Committee on Climate Change’s erosion property impact dataset (unpublished FOI), which is an intermediary dataset to their 2018 coastal report.

Map terms of use and data warnings

The information provided on this map is for general interest only and does not constitute specific advice. Although we make efforts to update the information, we make no representation, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in our map is accurate, complete or up to date.

The plotted erosion boundaries are estimates of the worst case scenario and use publicly available data. They show the maximum extent the erosion zone might reach by 2100 (five per cent confidence). There is less than a five per cent chance of the coast being eroded further using currently available data.

We used the Environment Agency’s 2100 erosion predictions, which do not account for the most recent sea level rise projections, nor the acceleration of this rate in the next 100 years. As a result, the long term erosion risks plotted on our map may be underestimations, as rates of sea level rise are expected to increase over the next decades. The EA plans to update its erosion dataset by 2024 (NCERM2) to account for the most recent climate change projections.

The map cannot show the absolute location of the future coastline. In particular, the data cannot accurately estimate the extent of erosion at the boundaries between different policies.

Property loss information cannot be relied upon at the localised scale and should therefore not be used to support local policy decisions. The map and related data are useful for general interest and national-scale discussions.

The map and data are intended for guidance only and cannot estimate the absolute risks to individual properties. Please contact your local authority for the most up-to-date data in your local area.

Click here to understand the data better.

The erosion zones for 2100 have only been plotted for the 21 locations. The absence of erosion bands on other parts of the English coastline does not mean there is no erosion occurring. To find out the retreat distances on other coastlines, click on the colour-coded SMP policies on the map.

Are you located in a zone/community potentially at risk of erosion? Read the Information guide for coastal residents section.

Coastal erosion data feedback

Disclaimer

This information is provided for guidance only. Please see the full disclaimer in our terms and conditions.

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