Straight Point to Holcombe 8
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 includes the Exe Estuary, the large urban, commercial and tourism centre of Exmouth and the popular tourist resorts of Dawlish and Dawlish Warren.
Its eastern end includes a small stretch of undeveloped cliffs between Straight Point and Orcombe Point, before the coast drops into the more low-lying land defining the channel of the Exe Estuary. Parts of Exmouth, Lympstone and Starcross lie within the tidal floodplain of the Exe Estuary. The large sand spit of Dawlish Warren plays an important role reducing the impact of waves within the estuaryand is at risk of ongoing change affecting flood risk management in the medium to long term.
Along the western stretch from Langstone Rock to the promontory of Permian red sandstone cliffs at Holcombe, erosion is the main risk, managed through a constant series of defence structures along the main rail line. Exposure to high energy waves has previously led to severe damage to the important rail link into South Devon and Cornwall here. Although recent improvements, future storm damage poses along term risk to the railway and infrastructure along this section of coast.
The Exe estuary is legally protected for its internationally important wildlife and designated environmental features and the cliffs at Dawlish are a Site of Special Scientific Interest.