Working together to protect coasts

In April 2008, we became the organisation who has a strategic overview on the coast in England. It's a major change not only for us, but also for local authorities that have dealt with Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) up to now. In Wales the strategic overview role remains with local authorities.

The change has arisen as previously with 88 local authorities involved on the coast of England, the way that investment to reduce flooding and erosion was dealt with, was very fragmented.

The Environment Agency already work closely with local authorities and so have a good relationship with many of them. This relationship will enable us to plan together what we're going to do on the coast in a joined-up, consistent way so that investment is properly targeted.

We want to draw on the depth of experience that local authorities have in dealing with flood and erosion risk on the coast, so that together we can reduce the risk.

As well as handling the approval process for coastal projects, the Environment Agency will compile the Medium-term Plan for the English coast instead of Defra. We're also now approving Shoreline Management Plans on behalf of Defra. In Wales, the local authorities retain their coastal overview role and responsibility for Shoreline Management Plans.

We will be giving technical advice that Defra would have provided in the past, and liaising with coastal landowners. We will be monitoring the shoreline to check for erosion and accretion. We will also be mapping coastal erosion risk - this will be added to our website in 2009.