Parrett Estuary (Hinkley Point to Burnham-on-Sea) 9
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 covers the southern coastline of Bridgwater Bay and encompasses the Parrett Estuary to Bridgewater. It lies in front of the extensive low-lying area of the Somerset and Bleadon Levels. The coast itself is low-lying and characterised by intensive agriculture running to the edge of the shoreline.
The southern shore of Bridgwater Bay is rural, with hamlets at Stolford and Steart, while the eastern shore includes the coastal towns of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge. Other settlements along the banks of the Parrett Estuary include Combwich, Dunball Wharf and the large town of Bridgwater.
Many of these hamlets and villages, and many areas of Bridgewater, Burnham and Highbridge, are also at flood risk and this is managed by a combination of methods including traditional defences, managed realignment of unsustainable flood defences (especially on the Steart Penninsula) and the building of the Bridgewater Barrier.
The Somerset Levels are a National Nature Reserve that extends to the coast. Bridgwater Bay (including the Levels) has a range of designations that legally protect its internationally important wildlife. Some of these designations form part of the wider protected area of the Severn Estuary, which is of critical international importance for its wetlands, waders, and waterfowl.