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Coast Protection

Constructing Coast Defences

Under the 1949 and 1991 Acts, permissive powers are available to the appropriate authority to identify the need for coast defence measures and to promote suitable schemes which are of benefit to the community. Any schemes prepared by Dover District Council must meet the strategic objectives for the frontage and are subject to DEFRA approval. The Council can also apply for grant aid to DEFRA who will pay a percentage of the scheme costs subject to a cost benefit analysis. The balance of the costs is met by additional borrowings known as Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA).

Coastal defence construction features generally fall into two categories.

(1) Hard Defences

Static shoreline structures such as those constructed from timber, steel, concrete, asphalt and rubble.
These involve linear structures such as sea walls, revetments and breastwork and control structures of artificial headlands, offshore breastwork and groynes.

(2) Soft Defences

Mobile/ responsive defence measures which seek to work with nature rather than control it. Such structures may consist of sand or shingle beaches and dunes or banks) which may be natural or constructed, and may include control structures. These can include soft solutions of beach nourishment, cliff/dune stabilisation, bypassing and managed retreat.

E-mail: propertyservices@dover.gov.uk