River Medway and Swale Estuary SMP9
General actions for this SMP
This shows the actions generic to the whole of this SMP. For further actions relating to specific locations, select an area on the map above or use the postcode/location search and click on the Action Plan tab.
All actions are subject to funding and approval, often by other parties than the Lead Organisation shown.
| Reference Number | Action Description | Action Lead Organisation | Action Progress Status | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 187 | Review the recommendations of the Medway Estuary and Swale Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (MEASS) and review the need to make formal changes to the existing actions or management approaches in the SMP, and also identify implications for Strategy delivery. | Environment Agency | Not yet started | High |
| 18 | Revised whether Policy is being implemented for each Policy Unit, if not what mitigation actions need to be implemented by the appropriate Lead Authority | Environment Agency | Planned/programmed | Medium-high |
| 1 | Establish and maintain an SMP Group within the South East Coastal Group to monitor, report and co-ordinate implementation of SMP actions and management approaches, review and manage changes to the SMP, and promote the SMP in investment programmes and local development planning. | South East Coastal Group | Progressing | Medium |
| 2 | Establish a communications and engagement approach to ensure that elected members of local councils are aware of and understand the management approaches agreed in the SMP, and the opportunities and implications for their local area. | SMP9 Management Group | Progressing | Medium |
| 3 | Engage with the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee to ensure the investment needs arising from the SMP – including resource to update and maintain the SMP - are reflected in flood and coastal erosion risk management investment planning. | SMP9 Management Group | Progressing | Medium |
| 4 | Develop a Strategic Communications and Engagement Plan to ensure the SMP has profile with those making investment and planning decisions, and is used and understood by those living or working at the coast (or seeking to do so) within the SMP area. | SMP9 Management Group | Not yet started | Medium |
| 5 | Update the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the SMP to ensure it reflects any changes made to the Plan’s management intent or impacts of existing management intent on Highly Protected Marine Areas, Marine Conservation Zones and SSSIs. | SMP9 Management Group | Not yet started | Medium |
| 6 | Carry out a strategic-level review of the Habitats Regulations Assessment of the SMP & linked strategies for example the Medway Estuary and Swale Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (MEASS) to ensure it reflects any changes made to the Plan’s management intent or impacts of existing management intent on newly designated protected European Sites. | SMP9 Management Group | Not yet started | Medium |
| 7 | Carry out a strategic-level review to ensure the SMP reflects the opportunities to meet objectives set out in the River Basin Management Plan coving the SMP’s Transitional and Coastal Waters. | Environment Agency | Not yet started | Medium |
| 8 | Update projections of habitat change using evidence from the Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme and local studies to inform the Habitat Compensation and Restoration Programme. | Environment Agency | Progressing | Medium |
| 9 | Identify potential opportunities for statutory habitat compensation and take forward through the regional Habitat Compensation and Restoration Programme. | Environment Agency | Progressing | Medium |
| 10 | Identify potential areas of habitat creation and restoration that could be delivered through Local Nature Recovery Strategies, for Biodiversity Net Gain from development planning, and other initiatives, and align these with the Habitat Compensation and Restoration Programme. | Environment Agency | Progressing | Medium |
| 11 | Ensure that local and regional development planning documents take account of SMP policies and flood erosion risks, including the designation of Coastal Change Management Areas where potential, predicted or residual risk from flood, landslip or erosion requires consideration in development consents and future planning. | SMP9 Management Group | Progressing | Medium |
| 12 | Secure funding and capacity for ongoing implementation of the Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme, ensuring its design continues to capture information required to inform management of key areas of risk or uncertainty within the SMP. | SMP9 Management Group | Progressing | Medium |
| 13 | Use Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme data and local studies to identify the character and timing of key triggers for intervention in areas of the SMP where a transition from one management approach to another will or may be needed. | SMP9 Management Group | Not yet started | Medium |
| 14 | Use data from Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme and local studies to inform improvements to Environment Agency flood and erosion risk data to support published projections of risk that inform SMP management approaches. | SMP9 Management Group | Progressing | Medium |
| 15 | Develop, monitor and review emergency response plans to prepare for extreme events that exceed designed standards of protection. | SMP9 Management Group | Progressing | Medium |
| 16 | Maintain links between SMP activities and emergency response plans to help prepare for extreme events, promote awareness of the Flood Warning Service and ensure clarity over roles and responsibilities in response and recovery. | SMP9 Management Group | Progressing | Medium |
| 17 | Develop localised adaptation strategies for locations within the SMP where a transition from one management approach to another will or may be needed, reflecting locally agreed options and triggers for intervention. | SMP9 Management Group | Not yet started | Medium |
| 186 | Investigate viability of freshwater sites and compensatory sites incl. hydrology | RSPB | Not yet started | Medium-low |
Download SMP documents
The information on this website represents the current SMP management approaches adopted by the local authorities within its area, and current actions needed to deliver them. These management approaches have been approved by the Environment Agency under its Strategic Overview for coastal flood and erosion risk management and are considered to be local policy.
The documents below provide the full SMP adopted locally and approved by the Environment Agency at the time of publication. Some of the information has changed in response to new government policy, new evidence or new work identified.
Data on this page
Main report
Appendices
- Appendix A- SMP Development
- Appendix B (pt1)- Stakeholder Engagement
- Appendix B (pt2)- Stakeholder Engagement
- Appendix C- Baseline Estuary Process
- Appendix C- No Active Intervention Maps
- Appendix D- Designation Maps
- Appendix D- SEA Environmental Baseline Report (Theme Review)
- Appendix E- Issues and Objectives Evaluations
- Appendix F- Initial Policy Appraisal _ Scenario Development
- Appendix G (pt1)- Scenario Testing
- Appendix G (pt 2)- Scenario Testing
- Appendix H- Economic Appraisal and sensitivity testing
- Appendix I- Metadatabse
- Appendix J- Habitats Regulations Assessment
- Appendix K- Strategic Environmental Assessment
- Appendix L- Water Framework Compliance
Individual unit reports
About this SMP
This Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) covers the areas of the Medway and Swale estuaries in Kent. The open coast sections of this area are covered in Shoreline Management Plan 10.
You can read the full SMP document by selecting the Download tab. This SMP was completed in 2010 and received formal adoption and sign off from relevant local authorities and the Environment Agency.
Managing shorelines in this area
The SMP for this area presents agreed approaches to managing the risk of coastal flooding and erosion at the shoreline and in estuaries over the short, medium, and long term, considering the implications of climate change.
In some locations, the approaches set out in the SMP change over time, for example from holding the current shoreline position with defences to realigning it or allowing the coast to change more naturally.
The SMP shows where this may affect people, property or the natural environment and the action plan includes measures to manage the local effects of coastal change. Local development planning can then be used to help avoid or address these effects, for example by identifying where new or relocated buildings can be built and defining any conditions to promote safety or sustainability. More localised Coastal Strategies may also be developed to identify how the approach in the SMP should be funded and implemented in more detail. You can find these under the Related Links tab for the SMP.
The objectives of the SMP can be found in the national SMP Guidance document (Volume 1, section 2.1). In summary, they are to identify preferred approaches for:
- managing flood and erosion risk to existing properties and other assets
- identifying approaches that are economically, technically and environmentally sustainable
- protecting and enhancing the natural features and character of the coast through these approaches where possible
Managing inland flood risk
To find out more about managing future flood risk inland, see the Flood Risk Management Plan.
Developing this SMP
The group that developed and agreed this SMP included:
- Canterbury City Council
- Kent County Council
- Medway Council
- Swale Borough Council
- Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
- Defra
- Environment Agency
- Natural England
The group consulted the public and engaged with a range of stakeholders interested in the area’s coastal management while developing this SMP. The SMP was approved by the Environment Agency and formally adopted by each local authority. You can find further details of how the group developed the SMP in Appendix B of the document. This can be found by selecting the Download tab.