West Wight 6
General actions for this subsection
This shows the actions generic to the whole of this subsection. 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
14.0.18 | Complete the West Wight Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management Strategy. Now completed and available on the Isle of Wight Council's website; Priority schemes identified and progressed. | Isle of Wight Council | Complete | High |
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: Stakeholder engagement
- Appendix C1: Coastal processes and climate change
- Appendix C2: Defence appraisal (including maps of the coastal defences: maintainer, type, condition and residual life)
- Appendix C3: Scenarios of future shoreline change (including erosion maps for the ‘No Active Intervention’ and ‘With Present Management’ scenarios)
- Appendix D: Natural and built environment baseline (including maps of nature conservation designations, coastal habitats and heritage features)
- Appendix E: Issues and objectives evaluation
- Appendix F: Strategic Environmental Assessment (including addendum)
- Appendix G: Scenario testing
- Appendix H: Economic appraisal
- Appendix I: Habitat Regulations Assessment - Appropriate Assessment
- Appendix J: Water Framework Directive (WFD) Assessment
- Appendix K: Reference list and bibliographic database
- Appendix L: Information to the Secretary of State according to regulations 49(5) and 51(2) of the Habitats Regulations; and Statement to Defra on SRHCP and IW the SMPs compliance with the Habitat Regulations
- Appendix M: Statement of environmental particulars
Supporting documents
About this subsection
This subsection of the SMP includes the settlements of Freshwater, Totland and Yarmouth, with connecting roads and the Ferry terminal at Yarmouth. It also includes the spectacular natural Chalk headland of The Needles. The area is important to the tourism industry supporting West Wight communities.
The shoreline in undeveloped areas is mainly narrow beaches of coarser material from the high eroding cliffs, with shallow rock platforms in the nearshore area. These cliffs become lower around Headon Warren and line Totland and Colwell Bays before changing in the east to the low-lying area of the floodplain of the Western Yar estuary and river, which cuts through the Island from north to south, from Freshwater Bay to Yarmouth.
There is a combination of historic defences and eroding bays along the shoreline in this area, and it includes areas at risk of erosion and flooding. Internationally and nationally important habitats and designations in the area include the Western Yar valley, Colwell cliffs and the spectacular coastal scenery surrounding the Needles peninsula, as well as a designated Marine Conservation Zone and part of the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.