Thorncombe Beacon to Beer Head 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
Appendices
- Appendix A - SMP Development
- Appendix B - Stakeholder Engagement
- Appendix C - Baseline Process Understanding
- Appendix D - Sea Environmental Baseline Report
- Appendix E - Issues and Objectives Evaluation
- Appendix F - Initial Policy Appraisal and Scenario Development
- Appendix G - Preferred Policy Scenario Testing
- Appendix H - Economic Appraisal and Sensitivity Testing
- Appendix I - Strategic Environmental Assessment Report
- Appendix J - Appropriate Assessment Report
- Appendix K - Water Framework Directive Assessment Report
- Appendix L - Metadata and Bibliographic Databases
- Appendix M - Action Plan Summary Tables
Supporting Documents
About this subsection
This subsection of the SMP is characterised by dramatic, unstable cliffs where the complex underlying geology encourages slippage of the cliff face. This has made this area of coast famous for its ongoing exposure of fossils as well as the geology itself.
The erosion and natural evolution of these cliffs is integral to their legal designations and landscape value. The area lies within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the UNESCO “Jurassic Coast” World Heritage Site and is legally protected under various other designations for its international importance for wildlife and geology. The famous Undercliff between Lyme Regis and the mouth of the River Axe is a National Nature Reserve.
Tourism is important for the local economy, with communities at Seatown, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Seaton and Beer providing the main centres. The remaining coast is undeveloped, with the transition between shoreline and farmland frequently softened by vegetated historic landslips. Sediment transport along this frontage is relatively weak due to the interruptions caused by numerous headlands.
This subsection also includes the Axe Estuary Marine Conservation Zone.