Subsection

Beer Head to Otterton Ledge 6

• Coastal Group: South West

The Beer Head to Otterton Ledge Subsection is split into 5 areas. Their boundaries have been set based on analysis of coastal processes and the character of the shoreline. Select an area to find out more information about it.

• Beer Head to Salcombe Hill 6A34
• River Sid and Sidmouth (East) 6A35
• Sidmouth 6A36
• Chit Rocks to Big Picket Rock 6A37
• Big Picket Rock to Otteron Ledge 6A38

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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

• Action plan (CSV)
• Policies (CSV)

Main report

• Introduction
• Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Basis for Development of the Plan
• The preferred plan
• Policy statement - part 1
• Policy statement - part 2
• Action plan
• Glossary
• References

Appendices

• Appendix A - SMP Development
• Appendix B - Stakeholder Engagement
• Appendix C - Baseline Process Understanding
  • Appendix C - maps
• Appendix D - Sea Environmental Baseline Report
  • Appendix D - Map (overview)
  • Appendix D - Map
• 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

• Summary leaflet
• Non-technical summary

About this subsection

This stretch of shoreline is mainly undeveloped, with steep, eroding cliffs. In the eastern section between Beer Head and Weston Beach, the cliffs are especially mobile due to ground instability as well as the action of erosion from the sea.

This constant exposure of the face of these cliffs is important for their geological interest and the exposure of fossils, as this shoreline is part of the UNESCO “Jurassic Coast” World Heritage Site. The coast between Beer and Sidmouth is also designated for its internationally important environmental interest features.

Sidmouth is the largest settlement on this stretch of coast, providing an important centre for tourism and local services. Some tourism infrastructure at Ladram Bay is situated on an eroding cliff top.

Related links

• Coastal Group Website
• Coastal Handbook
• National Coast Monitoring
• Flood and coastal erosion risk management: current schemes and strategies
• Designated Sites View