Flood risk and erosion management planning is carried out at a range of scales. At the broadest level Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) set the policy context for flood risk and erosion planning over large areas.
Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategies (FCERMS) form part of the next tier of planning. They identify and assess measures for the eventual implementation of the policies identified within the SMP.
North Solent Shoreline Management Plan
The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is a non-statutory document that provides a broad assessment of the long-term risks associated with coastal processes. The North Solent SMP is the first revision to the Western Solent and Southampton Water SMP and the East Solent and Harbours SMP. The coastline covered by the plan extends between Selsey Bill, in the east, and Hurst Spit, in the west, which includes the Southampton frontage. We contributed to the development of this plan, which was led by New Forest District Council.
The North Solent SMP was adopted by Southampton City Council on 25th October 2010. Following adoption of the plan by each of the contributing local authorities the SMP was submitted to the Environment Agency and received formal sign off in December 2010. To access the final SMP documents follow the link North Solent SMP website at the bottom of the page.
River Itchen, Weston Shore, Netley & Hamble Coastal Technical Study
The Coastal Technical Study was originally being developed as a Coastal Defence Strategy, which begun in 2005. Development of the project was delayed due to the introduction of new legislation which caused a significant delay in the schedule. Due to the development of the project spanning several iterations of guidance updates and the minimal need in the study area for schemes for either coastal erosion or flood defence it has not been considered appropriate to take this study forward to a formal Coastal Defence or Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management Strategy. Not withstanding this, the study has provided technical input to the finalised North Solent SMP (2010) and will provide technical support for any future coastal projects and schemes. The final study reports are available to download from the bottom of the page. The appendices are available on request.
Southampton Surface Water Management Plan
The SWMP maps the surface water flood risk areas within Southampton, determining the potential extent and consequences in order to establish the priority areas. Following a high-level appraisal of the options, the SWMP outlines a number of recommendations which detail the preferred option to manage the risk for each of the high risk hot-spot areas. Eight high risk hot-spot areas have been identified:
• Merging point of Tanners Brook & Holly Brook
• A33 Millbrook Road West
• Southampton Central Station
• City Centre (St Andrews Road)
• City Centre (Queens Park)
• West Quay retail area (Western Esplanade/Harbour Parade)
• Stoneham Way (junction with Wide Lane)
• Shoreburs Greenway (Millers Pond)
The recommendations for managing surface water at these locations are outlined in the SWMP Volume 1 report available to download from the bottom of the page. Implementation of the SWMP will begin early 2012, taken forward in partnership with the organisations that were involved during the development of the SWMP. These include the Environment Agency, Southern Water, Associated British Ports and Network Rail.
Southampton City Council
