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Subsection

Point Spaniard to Clodgy Point PDZ9

The Point Spaniard to Clodgy Point 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.

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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

Main report

Appendices

Summaries

Supporting documents

About this subsection

This sub-section of the SMP comprises around 55km of open coast extending right around the Land’s End peninsula. It is split into 5 smaller local shoreline management units.

This section of coast encompasses the most western tip of the Cornish Peninsula and includes Land’s End and Cape Cornwall, the two most westerly points. The area is very rural, with a few scattered settlements mainly set back from the immediate frontage of hard rocky sea cliffs, much of which are formed of ancient, weathered granite. The shoreline is extremely exposed to the dominant Atlantic wave climate and weather systems. The rugged cliffs and inaccessibility reflect the wild and unspoilt nature of the coastline, within which small communities have worked to survive on traditional activities of fishing and mining and more latterly through tourism. Agriculture is also a very important aspect of the rural economy in this part of Cornwall and in many places, this extends to the cliff edge.

Whitesand Bay is the most significant area of beach but a number of other small beaches are found at Pednvounder, Percella Cove, Porthcurno, Porth Chapel, Porthgwarra, Nanjizal, Portheras, Porthmeor, Treen and Porthglaze, where small streams enter the sea through steep-sided valleys.

Risks to development are proportionately low in line with the very limited presence of assets and property. In addition, the very resistant granite cliff geology which dominates the area dictates that erosion rates on the whole are lower than most other parts of the Cornish coast. In the storms of 2014, part of the breakwater at Lamorna Cove was damaged/lost. Flood risk is minimal, including in the main settlement at Sennen Cove.

The area is very highly designated and protected for natural and cultural heritage, and landscape. The Land’s End and Cape Bank Special Area of Protection, the Runnel Stone Marine Conservation Zone and a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, protect the coastline and its habitats. A large section of the coast, centred around Botallack, is designated as part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. Additionally, the entire sub-section is designated as Heritage Coast and as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The overarching management principle is therefore to allow the natural evolution of the coast, to support the multiple objectives of the numerous designations, whilst also supporting the coastal communities in the area and their adaptation to coastal change. Supporting tourist amenities (and particularly those associated with the World Heritage Site features) is important in assisting the adaption of communities.

The National Heritage Coast objectives are felt to appropriately define the key values and management principles. In summary these are to conserve the natural environment, facilitate the public’s enjoyment and appreciation of the area, maintain the health of the inshore waters and beaches, and to take account of the needs of agriculture and fishing, and of the economic and social needs of the small communities. It is intended that broadly speaking, the management intents for each of the smaller units contained within this sub-section should work together in combination, to enable delivery of these strategic objectives for the wider area, alongside their primary purpose of describing a locally sustainable approach for each individual location.