Outer Humber Estuary 4
General actions for this subsection
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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
Non-technical Summary
About this subsection
Within the Flamborough Head to Gibraltar Point SMP, the ‘outer Humber Estuary’ describes the shoreline from Kilnsea to Stone Creek on the north bank of the Humber and from Immingham (eastern jetty) to Saltfleet Haven on the south bank of the Humber. This stretch of the Humber is covered by the Humber Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy.
The estuary has a very high sediment load, some of which originates as fine sediment that has been eroded from the Holderness Cliffs and is pulled into the estuary by the tide. Much of this fine material is deposited within the Estuary and forms the mudflats, salt marshes and beach areas that line both the north and south banks. To keep pace with the predicted rates of sea level rise, and associated coastal squeeze caused by flood defences preventing landward habitat migration, this sediment will be critical to maintain these important natural features and habitats. The whole of this area is legally protected for its internationally important habitats and wildlife. Beyond the inter-tidal areas specifically set aside for nature, the dominant land use next to the shoreline outside the urban, industrial and port areas of Immingham and Grimsby is agriculture. Much of this farmland has been historically claimed from inter-tidal areas.