Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the risk of coastal erosion on (a) agricultural land and (b) rural infrastructure.

England has some of the most rapidly eroding coast in Europe due to natural processes. Climate change, sea level rise and increased storminess will increase the rate of change, which will threaten the resilience of coastal communities if no action is taken.

In January 2025, the Environment Agency (EA) will publish the updated National Coastal Erosion Risk Map for England. This is based on a further ten years of coastal monitoring data, the latest climate change evidence and technical input from coastal local authorities. It will provide the best available information on coastal erosion risk and be used by coastal local authorities and the EA to inform coastal management investment and local planning decisions.

The new data and map will include coastal erosion projections through this century, including the effects of climate change and provide an updated assessment of properties, infrastructure and agricultural land at risk. It takes account of the latest coastal management approaches set out in Shoreline Management Plans.

To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion over the next two years to improve flood resilience, by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. We are investing £36 million supporting local authorities in East Riding of Yorkshire, North Norfolk and Dorset to explore innovative approaches in adapting to the effects of coastal erosion.