The CLA has published a report to help find practical answers to tackling coastal management and sea-level rise on England’s East Coast.
The research project – entitled Optimal Stable Bay Design – was conducted by the engineering firm Halcrow to refine the use of offshore reefs to stabilise eroding beaches.
Its findings should help the Government deal with sea-level rise and storm surges in the East of England, protecting rural communities and food production capacity.
The project aimed to optimise the design features for stable bays which could be a cost-effective way of providing coastal defence without causing problems up or down the coast.
CLA President William Worsley said: "In future, defence works must be designed to manage dynamic coastal processes and we recognise that in rural areas these will sometimes need to be funded either privately or by a mixture of private and public funding.
"However, future investment in coastal management is neglected at our peril and we hope this study will remind government and the public that engineering solutions remain essential for the future."
CLA member Michael Sayer, whose efforts led to the project, said: "East Norfolk beaches are especially vulnerable to sea-level rise because of coastal erosion and past interruption of natural beach nourishment processes.
"This study aims to identify the most sustainable design to complete the protection of a rural area of small, vulnerable communities, important historic buildings, high quality farmland and the internationally recognised freshwater habitats of Horsey Mere and Hickling Broad."
Henry Cator, Chairman of the Broads Internal Drainage Board, which contributed to the study, said: "We need to lift the whole issue of coastal defence out of the short term political agenda."
Halcrow project manager Hakeem Johnson said that Halcrow had welcomed the opportunity to work with the CLA on this very interesting project.
The project was supported financially by the Broads and Norfolk Rivers Internal Drainage Boards, Norfolk County Council, North Norfolk District Council, the Norfolk Churches Trust, Targetfollow Estates, the Horsey Hall estate and the Burnley Hall estate.
