Newbiggin Moor to Seaton Sluice 5
General actions for this subsection
There are no actions generic to the whole of this subsection. For 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.
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
About this subsection
This subsection of the SMP extends about 17km from the hard rock cliffs at Newbiggin Moor to Seaton Sluice.
It comprises occasional hard rock outcrops of sea cliff and shore platform, soft cliffs, sandy beaches and dunes. It also includes the mouths of the River Wansbeck estuary, the River Blyth estuary and Seaton Burn (also known as Hartley Haven). The physical coast has five distinct sections: the Newbiggin headland; the sandy embayments between Newbiggin Point to Blyth Harbour; Blyth Harbour itself; the sandy embayment between Blyth Harbour and Seaton Sluice; and Seaton Burn. The beaches at Newbiggin, Cambois, Blyth and Seaton provide recreational amenity for their associated towns and behind them lies a mixture of urban and agricultural land, industrial and tourist infrastructure.
The entire shoreline length is a legally protected Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the nearshore environment is a Marine Conservation Zone. Many parts are included in the Northumbria Coast Special Protection Area that safeguards internationally important bird populations.