Coastal Areas: Lincolnshire

(asked on 14th April 2021) - View Source

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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Environment Agency about actions they can take to support the development of coastal communities in the Greater Lincolnshire area.


This question was answered on 28th April 2021

In 2019 the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) received £370,000 for its project “Future Proofing Coastal Tourism Sector”. The project provides support for local businesses in the Greater Lincolnshire area, via the creation of a Coastal Business/Provider Forum. In addition, a range of training courses will be delivered to employed and unemployed people, with the aim of upskilling them in preparation for employment. Coastal Champions will act as role models and link into the LEP Ambassador scheme.

The Coastal Revival Fund helps kick start regeneration of ‘at risk’ coastal heritage that are important to local communities and that have the potential to create opportunities for new economic uses or are facing neglect. As part of this fund, East Lindsey District Council received £50,000 towards the restoration of the Grade II listed Skegness Rockery Gardens.

The Environment Agency actively leads and supports partnership approaches that improve coastal communities across Greater Lincolnshire. This includes guiding planning policy and long-term investment strategies, to delivering high quality defences and a world class flood warning service. For example, the Environment Agency provides an annual beach nourishment scheme which reduces the risk of flooding to over 20,000 homes along the Lincolnshire coast, whilst also providing beaches to help attract visitors and support businesses.

The Lincolnshire Water Management Partnership has identified the coast as a priority, needing a long-term vision to ensure that it adapts to climate change. The Environment Agency is working with local government to develop an adaptation strategy that will optimise prosperity on the coast having regard to the challenge of climate change over the next 100 years. The purpose is to deliver a resilient pattern of spatial development tactically over the next 25 within a strategic view of the next 100 years.

The Environment Agency has also been engaged with the Boston, Connected Coast, and Greater Grimsby Town Deal Boards to help develop and advise on the investment plans and priority projects for the towns. The Town Deals announced in the March 2021 budget confirmed £91.2 million of Government funding for Greater Lincolnshire’s coastal communities including £21.9 million for Boston, £23.9 million for Mablethorpe, £24.5 million for Skegness and £20.9 million for Grimsby.

The English coast has enormous potential and the Government is determined to see it thrive all year round. Our coastal communities support a range of sectors including tourism, fishing and renewable energy. We will support coastal communities to unlock barriers to their development and growth, and to strengthen their appeal as places to live, work and visit.

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