Colne Estuary D
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 - Thematic review
- Appendix E - Policy development and appraisal
- Appendix F - Shoreline interactions & responses
- Appendix G - Policy appraisal
- Appendix H - Economics
- Appendix I - Bibliographic database
- Appendix J - Sustainability appraisal signposting
- Appendix K - Water framework directive assessment
- Appendix L - Strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
- Appendix M - Habitats regulations assessment report
Changes and addendums
Non-technical summary
About this subsection
This subsection of the SMP runs from the eastern end of the village of Point Clear, where the back of the shoreline rises to low cliffs which are eroding in places. It includes Brightlingsea and Alresford Creeks and extends up the Colne Estuary to the Colne Tidal Flood Barrier at Wivenhoe. The subsection runs back around Fingringhoe Wick and the marshes at Geedon Creek up to where The Strood road crosses to Mersea Island. Much of the area forms the Colne Estuary National Nature Reserve.
Most of the land in the tidal flood zone is agricultural. Parts of the communities of Point Clear, Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe are also at risk from flooding. At Point Clear and Brightlingsea, there are caravan sites within the tidal flood zone, alongside other leisure infrastructure, harbour, and light industrial installations. The sand and gravel quarry at Ballast Quay to the south of Rowhedge village, and Lagenhoe Solar Farm at Wick are the only other installations in this subsection, both above the tidal floodplain. The Wick Marsh/Langenhoe Marsh/Fingringhoe Marsh area has military importance as a Ministry of Defence firing range.
The Colne Estuary Special Protection Area, which incorporates the inter-tidal areas throughout the Colne, safeguards its internationally important bird populations. The entire estuary complex of the Colne and Blackwater is also legally protected as a Special Area of Conservation and Marine Conservation Zone. The area includes sites where agricultural land has been more recently realigned to compensate for ongoing losses of protected coastal sites elsewhere.