Thorpeness to Orford Ness 5
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
- Aid to Navigation (showing how the sections of the SMP fit together)
- Executive Summary
- Section 1 - Introduction
- Section 2 - Environmental Assessment
- Section 3 - Basis for Development of the Plan
- Section 4 - Policy Development Zones
- Section 5 - Summary of Preferred Plan and Implications
- Section 6 - Policy Summary
- Section 7 - Action Plan
Subsection reports
Appendices
- Appendix A - SMP Development
- Appendix B - Key Stakeholder Consulation Report
- Appendix B - Public Consultation Report
- Appendix B - Stakeholder Engagement
- Appendix C - Baseline Processes
Appendix C - Annex 1 - Coastal Change Maps:
- Appendix D - Natural and Built Environment Baseline
- Appendix E - Features Issues and Objectives
- Appendix F - Strategic Environmental Assessment
- Appendix G - Scenario Testing
- Appendix H - Economic Assessment
- Appendix I- Estuaries Assessment
- Appendix J - Appropriate Assessment
- Appendix K - Metadatabase and Bibliography
- Appendix L - Water Framework Directive Assessment
Changes and addendums
About this subsection
This subsection of the SMP includes the main part of Thorpeness village and extends past Aldeburgh to the main feature of Orford Ness to the south of the site of the old lighthouse. The area lies within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
There are two distinct areas. To the north is the headland of Thorpeness and the defences in front of Aldeburgh to just south of Slaughden and the Martello tower, with the valley of the Hundred River and low-lying area behind the shingle bank. Thorpe Road connects Thorpeness and Aldeburgh and runs at the back of this bank. At Slaughden, defences help to hold the shingle barrier in place as the Alde-Ore Estuary runs directly behind, following the shoreline closely.
South of this is Orford Ness, extending about 7.5 kilometres south of Aldeburgh and including historic sites and a National Nature Reserve. The point of the ness was marked by the lighthouse, but as with most features of this type, Orford Ness moves and changes over time, and the lighthouse has been demolished. The Alde-Ore Estuary (not currently included in the SMP) and Orford Ness are legally protected for their internationally important wildlife.