Skip to main content

This is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it.

Subsection

The North Kent Coast   2

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

Appendices

Individual policy unit reports

About this subsection

This subsection of the SMP stretches between Faversham Creek, opposite the southern side of Sheppey, and Minnis Bay at the western fringe of Birchington-on-Sea. This includes the towns of Herne Bay and Whitstable, as well as holiday parks and the coastal road linking the towns of the North Kent coast. There are also sites of significant historic importance such as Reculver Towers and the Roman fort.

The western area of Faversham Creek to Seasalter is mainly low-lying agricultural land and includes coastal floodplain grazing marsh that is of considerable environmental interest and legally protected. The hinterland forms part of a single flood risk area which has the potential to inundate properties, energy infrastructure and strategic transport links such as the Faversham to Thanet railway line and the A299. Inter-tidal mud flats are legally protected for their internationally important wildlife.

Moving eastwards towards and beyond Seasalter, the mudflats give way to a series of relatively narrow mixed sand and shingle beaches with groyne fields in front of the main residential areas and holiday parks. The ground rises in several places such as Tankerton, Herne Bay and Bishopstone to form cliffs and slopes, and much of the shoreline is legally protected for its internationally important wildlife as part of the Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay Special Protection Area.