Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are on track to meet their commitment, made in December 2014, that the English Coastal Path will be completed and open in 2020; and if not, what are the reasons for any delays.
Work is well underway on all 66 stretches of the England Coast Path - a new National Trail around all of England’s coast. A European court judgement in April 2018 affected how Natural England could assess the impact of England Coast Path proposals on environmentally protected sites, and progress on the England Coast Path slowed as a result. While this means the path in its entirety is unlikely to be open in 2020, Natural England will work towards opening as much of the England Coast Path as possible throughout 2020.
The England Coast Path when completed will stretch approximately 2,717 miles around the coast. To date 385 miles (14%, 12 stretches) have been completed and new rights commenced, with a further 98 miles (4%, 4 stretches) undergoing establishment works before they are open for the public to walk. A summary of progress on each of the 16 open and approved stretches, with opening dates where known, is included in Tables A and B. The 50 unopened stretches are summarised in Table C. It is not currently possible to give estimated opening dates for many of the stretches still in progress. This is because the timeline for the final stages of the process depends on several factors including the number and nature of comments during the public consultation and the complexity of implementing works on the ground.
Table A - Open stretches
Stretch name | Opening date |
Rufus Castle to Lulworth Cove | 29/06/2012 |
Allonby to Whitehaven | 11/04/2014 |
North Gare to South Bents | 12/04/2014 |
Sea Palling to Weybourne | 12/12/2014 |
Brean Down to Minehead | 15/03/2016 |
Camber to Folkestone | 19/07/2016 |
Folkestone to Ramsgate | 19/07/2016 |
Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge | 21/07/2016 |
Hopton On Sea to Sea Palling | 24/10/2016 |
South Bents to Amble | 26/07/2018 |
Skegness to Mablethorpe | 27/02/2019 |
Newport Bridge to North Gare | 18/09/2019 |
Table B - Unopened stretches undergoing building works
Stretch name | Opening date |
Walney Island | February 2020 (estimate) |
Whitehaven to Silecroft | TBC |
Ramsgate to Whitstable | TBC |
Maldon to Salcott | TBC |
Table C - Unopened stretches
Region | Stretches |
South West | 8 |
West | 4 |
South | 7 |
South East | 6 |
Essex | 8 |
East | 7 |
North East | 5 |
North West | 5 |