Westward Ho! to Saunton Down 3
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 Processes
- Appendix D - SEA Environmental Baseline Report (Theme Review)
- Appendix E - Issues Objectives
- Appendix F - Initial Policy Appraisal
- Appendix G - Preferred Policies Summary
- Appendix H - Economic Sensitivity
- Appendix I - SEA
- Appendix J - Appropriate Assessment
- Appendix K - WFD
- Appendix L - Metadata Bibliography
- Appendix M - Action Plan Tables
About this subsection
This subsection of the SMP is approximately 10-miles long, covering the northern and eastern part of Bideford Bay and the outer part of the Taw and Torridge Estuary system. Westward Ho! is a coastal resort located at the southern-most point of the estuary with Saunton Down headland forming the northern-most point. It lies within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Beyond the immediate vicinity of Westward Ho!, this stretch of open coast is a mosaic of natural coastal habitats. These include the broad sandy beach at Westward Ho!, behind which can be found the saltmarshes, coastal grazing marsh and vegetated dunes of Northam Burrows, which is protected by a pebble ridge at the mouth of the Taw-Torridge Estuary. The expanse of Saunton Beach north of the estuary grades naturally into the extensive vegetated dunes of Braunton Burrows, the largest dune system in the UK. This natural multitude of habitats is complemented by an area of floodplain grazing marsh and the protected sites of Braunton Swanpool and Greenaways and Freshway Marshes, which lie behind a stretch of agriculture running behind the dune system.
This entire length of coast is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and Braunton Burrows is legally protected for its internationally important wildlife. The nearshore area is a Marine Conservation Zone.