Coastal Plans and Strategies

There are over 100 management plans and initiatives covering all or part of the Solent that address issues such as nature conservation, coastal defence and emergency planning. The main types of plans are detailed below; they are split into statutory and non-statutory plans.

Statutory Plans

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plans

The primary purpose of the AONB designation is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape, with two secondary aims: meeting the need for quiet enjoyment of the countryside; and having regard for the interests of those who live and work there. To achieve these aims, AONBs rely on planning controls and practical countryside management. There are two AONB plans covering the Solent:

European Marine Management Schemes

The European Community has adopted two Directives in response to its obligations under the Bern Convention: Council Directive 79/409/EEC (the Birds Directive), and Council Directive 92/43/EEC (the Species and Habitats Directive). These Directives provide for the protection of animal and plant species of European importance and the habitats which support them, particularly through the establishment of a network of protected sites. This network and its associated management schemes are commonly referred to as European Marine Management Schemes.

Schemes covering the Solent are:

Land Use Management Plans

There are a number of statutory land use management plans in the Solent. The Planning and Compulsory Act, 2004 introduced major changes to the planning system which meant that Structure Plans were replaced with Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS). Sub Regional Strategies and Local Plans were replaced with Local Development Frameworks (LDF) and Community Strategies. Details of these plans can be found on the websites of the Solent's local authorities. Use our members directory to find their contact details.

The South East Plan is a major piece of work being carried out by the South East Regional Assembly (SEERA). It will set out a vision for the region through to 2026, focusing on improvements that need to ensure the region remains economically successful and an attractive place to live.

River Basin Management Planning

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets out a detailed framework for the improved protection and management of water, from source to sea, and requires all inland and coastal waters to reach 'good ecological status or potential' by 2015. It aims to do this by establishing river basin districts within which environmental standards and objectives will be set, including ecological targets for surface waters.

The WFD requires the identification of river basin districts (RBD). River basin districts are made up of groups of catchments (rivers, streams, lakes and the land that drain into them). Groundwaters, rivers, estuaries (transitional waters), coastal waters and artificial waters (such as canals) are assigned to the most appropriate districts. For each RBD the water bodies have been identified according to the biology, hydrology and physio-chemical characteristics, following guidelines from the Directive. Environmental standards and objectives will be defined for these water bodies.

For each RBD there is a statutory requirement to produce a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) by 2009. In England, the Environment Agency has responsibility for producing these Plans in collaboration with external stakeholders. These will be strategic management documents developed via a planning process for the integrated management of water. This will be a cyclical process, where RBMPs are prepared, implemented and then reviewed every six years. The South East RBD incorporates the Solent.

Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs)

SMPs provide a large-scale assessment of the risks associated with coastal processes and present a long term policy framework to reduce these risks to people and the developed, historic and natural environment in a sustainable manner. An SMP is a high level document that forms an important element of the strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management.

In the Solent, SCOPAC is the coastal group that works to promote sustainable shoreline management, and to facilitate the duties and responsibilities of local authorities and other organisations managing the coastal zone of central southern England.

Non-Statutory Plans

Biodiversity Action plans

In 1993, the UK government consulted over three hundred organisations throughout the UK and held a two day seminar to debate the key issues raised at the Convention of Biological Diversity. The product of this was the launch of 'Biodiversity: the UK Action Plan' in 1994 which outlined the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for dealing with biodiversity conservation in response to the Rio Convention.

Solent specific plans include the following:

Coastal Habitat Management Plan (CHaMP)

CHaMPS quantify habitat change, (loss and gain), and recommend measures to prevent future losses. These include modifying flood and coastal defence options to avoid damage, or identifying the necessary habitat restoration or recreation works to compensate for unavoidable losses. They look at the cumulative impact on these features over a 30-100 year timescale.

Solent Coast and Estuaries CHaMP

Coastal Management Plans

Coastal management plans cover a distinct geographical area of coast and review the issues occurring within that location and identify management measures to address these. The Forum's Strategic Guidance for the Solent is a Solent-wide coastal management plan. Other plans around the Solent include:

The Beachlands Plan, this covers the South coast of Hayling Island
Chichester Coastal Management Plan, this covers the area from Chichester Harbour to Pagham Harbour
New Forest Coastal Management Plan
Portsmouth Seafront Management Strategy

Estuary and Harbour Management Plans

Estuary and Harbour Management Plans review the uses and issues that take place within that harbour or estuary and seek to promote good practice and resolve any conflicts. They also facilitiate partnership working for all the relevant stakeholders and develop partnership based projects.

Plans within the Solent include:

SOLFIRE

The SOLFIRE plan is the voluntary emergency plan covering maritime incidents in the Solent. The Solent is dividied into SOLFIRE West, SOLFIRE East and SOLFIRE South with command centres at Southampton, Portsmouth and Lee-on-the-Solent respectively. This plan includes SOLSPILL, the reporting system for oil spillages.

The Marine Coastguard Agency takes the lead role in all maritime pollution and search and rescue incidents. Local authorities have responsibilities for marine emergencies (such as oil pollution or stranded passengers) once they come ashore or above the mean low water mark.

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