Unit

Marazion Marsh 19.6

Summary management approach

Maintain defence to protect internationally important wetland site. The Marsh also contains the strategically important London to Penzance rail link with principle defences made up of a vertical masonry wall. The position of this line is likely to prevent a more sustainable shoreline position, although funding and technical feasibility will become more challenging over time as sea levels rise. The Hold the Line approach also includes management of the dune system. The management approach at this location will be further informed by Cornwall Council's 'Making Space For Sand' project, which is being undertaken during the period 2021 - 2027, funded by the Environment Agency's Flood and Coastal Resilience and Innovation Programme.

Generic approach assigned to this unit

Management approaches depend on funding and relevant approvals and permissions. Adaptation to coastal change may be needed. If defences are present, some risk from flooding, erosion or ground instability may remain.

Time periods (short (0 to 20 years), medium (20 to 50 years) and long (50 to 100)) are approximate and do not signify precise dates of management transitions.

0 to 20 years (2005 to 2025)

HL1Hold the lineMaintain/replace

Where protection is currently provided by coastal defence structures or managed beaches, and the intention is to retain a defence along approximately the current alignment. This will involve replacing defences when needed. Defence type, method and standard of protection may be modified over time.

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20 to 50 years (2025 to 2055)

HL1Hold the lineMaintain/replace

Where protection is currently provided by coastal defence structures or managed beaches, and the intention is to retain a defence along approximately the current alignment. This will involve replacing defences when needed. Defence type, method and standard of protection may be modified over time.

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50 to 100 years (2055 to 2105)

HL1Hold the lineMaintain/replace

Where protection is currently provided by coastal defence structures or managed beaches, and the intention is to retain a defence along approximately the current alignment. This will involve replacing defences when needed. Defence type, method and standard of protection may be modified over time.

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Neighbouring units

The following units are within 1km of this one:

• Undefended Cliffs (including southern part of Mount) 19.1
• Marazion Town 19.3
• St Michael's Mount - Causeway 19.4A
• Marazion west (Chapel Rock to Marazion Bridge) 19.5
• Longrock 20.1
• Undefended cliffs 24.1

Protected sites

This area of coastline is in or near a special protection area.

Data last updated: 2024-04-17

View Special Protection Area on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is in or near an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Data last updated: 2024-06-29

View Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is not in or near a special conservation area.

Data last updated: 2024-04-17

View Special Area of Conservation on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is not in or near a ramsar wetland area.

Data last updated: 2024-04-03

View Ramsar Site on the Data Services Platform

There are no scheduled monuments near this area of coastline.

Data last updated: 2024-04-03

View Scheduled Monument on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is not in or near a local nature reserve.

Data last updated: 2024-06-29

View Local Nature Reserve on the Data Services Platform

There is a site of special scientific interest near this area of coastline.

Data last updated: 2024-07-26

View Site of Special Scientific Interest on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is not in or near a national nature reserve.

Data last updated: 2024-06-29

View National Nature Reserve on the Data Services Platform

There is a marine conservation zone near this area of coastline.

Data last updated: 2024-04-03

View Marine Conservation Zone on the Data Services Platform

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Actions for this unit

All actions are subject to funding and approval, often by other parties than the Lead Organisation shown.

Reference Number	Action Description	Action Lead Organisation	Action Progress Status	Priority
17.076	Develop Marazion Marsh Habitat Strategy to identify threats and opportunities for Special Protection Area management and adaptation, and risk to the railway line.	Natural Engalnd	Progressing	High
17.079	Develop CPW2092, Cornwall Council Mounts Bay Coastal Management Strategy to inform Local Development Framework of coastal pressure and defence options and identify the preferred approach to managing flood and coastal risks to property and infrastructure with an improved understanding of erosion pressures. This will also identify managed realignment options and support favourable condition of Special Protection Area features.	Cornwall Council	Planned/programmed	Medium-high
17.079.01	As part of Mounts Bay Coastal Management Strategy: incorporate findings into Penzance Development Framework	Pending agreement	Not yet started	Medium-high
17.079.02	As part of Mounts Bay Coastal Management Strategy: Review Local Transport Plan to support delivery of managed realignment. Determine a medium to long term approach for A30 at Mounts Bay that addresses flood and erosion pressures	Pending agreement	Not yet started	Medium-high
17.079.03	As part of Mounts Bay Coastal Management Strategy: Review Regional Rail Network Plan to support delivery of managed realignment.	Network Rail	Not yet started	Medium-high
17.080	Develop project to ensure the Special Protection Area is protected from tidal encroachment to support favourable condition, monitoring frequency of tidal encroachment overtopping saline intrusion through defences.	Pending agreement	Not yet started	Medium-high
17.076.01	Conduct a detailed study on current and future water levels within the Marsh, as well as salinity levels and saline intrusion potential, to identify and design a suitable project improving the culverts, pipes and other outfall structures within Marazion Marsh and through the coastal embankment. This should avoid or minimise the scale of saline intrusion and tide- locking effect on water levels within the Marsh, counteracting the effects of sea level rise. This study could be undertaken as part of an expanded Water Level Management Plan.	Pending agreement	Complete
17.077	Undertake a wave monitoring study to provide improved wave climate understanding and quantify risk to property	Environment Agency	Complete
17.078	Develop a Beach and Dune Management Plan to reduce risks to the Special Protection Area.	Cornwall Council	Complete

Download table as spreadsheet (CSV)

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

• Action plan (CSV)
• Policies (CSV)

Main report

• Chapter 1 - Introduction
• Chapter 2 - Environmental Assessment
• Chapter 3 - Basis for the Plan

• Chapter 4 - Management Units:

  • Introduction to the management units
  • PDZ1 - Pencarrow Head to Gribbin Head - Introduction
  • MA1 - Rame Head to Downderry
  • MA2 - Downderry and Seaton
  • MA3 - Seaton to Pencarrow Head
  • PDZ2 - Pencarrow Head to Gribbin Head - Introduction
  • MA4 - Pencarrow Head to Gribbin Head
  • MA5 - Fowey Estuary (above Mixtow) inc tributaries
  • PDZ3 - Gribbin Head to Black Head - Introduction
  • MA6 - Gribbin Head to Par Docks
  • MA7 - Par Docks to Black Head
  • PDZ4 - Black Head to Zone Point - Introduction
  • MA8 - Black Head to Dodman Point
  • MA9 - Veryan Bay
  • MA10 - Gerrans Bay
  • PDZ5 - Zone Point to Nare Point - Introduction
  • MA11 - Lower Fal
  • MA12 - Upper Fal
  • MA13 - Pendennis Point to Rosemullion Head
  • MA14 - Helford
  • PDZ6 - Lizard (Nare Point to Baulk Head - Gunwalloe) - Introduction
  • MA15 - Lizard East (Nare Point to Lizard Point)
  • MA16 - Lizard West (Lizard Point to Baulk Head)
  • PDZ7 - Mounts Bay East (Baulk Head (Gunwalloe) to Marazion) - Introduction
  • MA17 - Baulk Head to Trewavas Head
  • MA18 - Trewavas Head to The Greeb
  • PDZ8 - Mounts Bay West (The Greeb to Point Spaniard (Inc Marazion and St Michael’s Mount - Introduction
  • MA19 - Marazion to Longrock
  • MA20 - Longrock to Penzance
  • MA21 - Penzance and Newlyn (Albert Pier to Sandy Cove)
  • MA22 - Mousehole (Sandy Cove breakwater - Point Spaniard)
  • PDZ9 - Penwith Peninsula (Point Spaniard to Clodgy Point) - Introduction
  • MA23 - Point Spaniard to Land’s End
  • MA24 - Land’s End to Clodgy Point (St Ives)
  • PDZ10 - Clodgy Point to Godrevy Point - Introduction
  • MA25 - Clodgy Point to Porthminster Point
  • MA26 - Porthminster Point to Hayle Estuary
  • MA27 - Hayle Estuary
  • MA28 - Black Cliff to Godrevy Point
  • PDZ11 - North Cliffs (Godrevy Point - Pentire Point West) Introduction
  • MA29 - Godrevy Point to St Agnes Head
  • MA30 - St Agnes Head to Pentire Point West
  • PDZ12 - Newquay (Pentire Point West - Trevelgue Head) Introduction
  • MA31 - Fistral Bay and Crantock
  • MA32 - Newquay Bay
  • PDZ13 - Trevelgue Head to Stepper Point - Introduction
  • MA33 - Trevelgue Head to Trevose Head
  • MA34 - Trevose Head to Stepper Point
  • PDZ14 - Camel Estuary (Stepper Point to Pentire Point) - Introduction
  • MA35 - Camel Estuary (Stepper Point to Trebetherick Point)
  • MA36 - Trebetherick Point to Pentire Point
  • PDZ15 - Pentire Point to Wanson Mouth - Introduction
  • MA37 - Pentire Point to Boscastle
  • MA38 - Boscastle to Wanson Mouth
  • PDZ16 - Widemouth & Bude (Wanson Mouth to Lower Sharpnose Point) - Introduction
  • MA39 - Wanson Mouth to Higher Longbeak
  • MA40 - Higher Longbeak to Lower Sharpnose Point
  • PDZ17 - Lower Sharpnose Point to Hartland Point - Introduction
  • MA41 - Lower Sharpnose Point to Hartland Point
  • PDZ18 - Isles of Scilly - Introduction
  • MA42 - St Mary’s
  • MA43 - St Martin’s
  • MA44 - Tresco
  • MA45 - Bryher
  • MA46 - St Agnes and Gugh

• Chapter 5 – Summary of Preferred Plan Introduction:

  • Summary of Preferred Plan - Introduction
• Chapter 6 - Action plan
• Glossary
• Acknowledgements

Appendices

• Appendix A – SMP Development
• Appendix B – Stakeholder Engagement
• Appendix C - Baseline
• Appendix D – Theme Review Final Report
• Appendix E – Issues and Objectives

• Appendix F - SEA:

  • Sea Pre Consultation Report March 2010 Pages 1-200
  • Sea Pre Consultation Report March 2010 Pages 201-296
  • Sea Statement Of Environmental Particulars Post Consultation
  • Annex 1
  • Annex 2
  • Sea Pre Consultation Report March 2010
• Appendix G – Scenario Testing

• Appendix H - Economic Appraisal:

  • Appendix H Final Report Pages 1-12
  • Appendix H Final Report Pages 13-32
  • Appendix H Final Report Pages 33-46

• Appendix I - HRA:

  • Appendix A Cornwall And Ios Smp2 Appropriate Assessment 1
  • Appendix B Sssi Condition Tables
  • Appendix D Hr01
  • Appendix E Hr02
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz10 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz11 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz12 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz13 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz14 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz16 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz18 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz1 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz2 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz3 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz4 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz5 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz6 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz7 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz8 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
  • Hra Appendix C1 Pdz9 Assessment Tablesv2 Submitted
• Appendix J - Water framework Assessment
• Appendix K - GIS Data
• Appendix L - Adoption

Summaries

• Summary leaflet
• Cornwall Summary Document
• Isles of Scilly Summary Document

Supporting documents

• Public consultation responses - Cornwall
• Public consultation responses - Isles of Scilly
• Statement of environmental particulars
• Pre-consultation report
• SMP Reviews

Related links

• Coastal Group Website
• Coastal Handbook
• National Coast Monitoring
• Flood and coastal erosion risk management: current schemes and strategies
• Designated Sites View
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment mapping tool