The conference was held at the Orbis Centre in Lowestoft, the focus point of the region's renewable energy effort, and focused on the pioneering work of the East of England Coastal Initiative.
This initiative is the first of its kind in the country and brings together a wide range of government, local councils, non-government, voluntary, and business groups. Their combined knowledge and resources will be used to create an effective, stream-lined approach that involves the local communities to tackle some of the economic and social challenges the coastal area faces, and build new and sustainable opportunities for coastal communities. The initiative will also fully address the challenges and opportunities for coastal communities and environments in the region as a result of climate change.
Minister for the East of England, Barbara Follett said:
"The East of England Coast has some of the most stunning landscape and rich wildlife in the country. Its inhabitants count themselves lucky to live there but, despite being surrounded by great beauty and diversity, they are facing some very real challenges. Not least among these are the pockets of deprivation to be found in many local communities; the difficulties people living there have accessing transport, jobs and health services and, in particular, the effect that coastal erosion is having on homes and businesses.
"These challenges are complex and multi-faceted with no easy solutions. That is why the Coastal Initiative is so important. It provides a really good way for the Region to pool its expertise and resources to find really effective ways of tacking these issues in the short, medium, and long term."
Key delivery partners of the initiative include the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East), the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), Natural England, the Environment Agency, English Partnerships, Sustainability East (formerly the Sustainable Development Round Table), Suffolk Coastal District Council representing coastal local authorities and Norfolk County Council.
The Coastal Initiative programme is divided into three phases:
Phase 1: Gathering evidence to get clarity on the key challenges faced by the coastal area of the region.
Phase 2: Engaging with coastal decision makers and the coastal communities to agree ways to address these issues.
Phase 3: Coastal decision makers (local and national) to establish ways to deliver the agreed plans.
A significant contribution towards Phase 1 of the Coastal Initiative has recently been completed with existing evidence of coastal issues in the region being collated by a number of government and council departments. In addition, EEDA has funded a specific investigation into the value of the coastal area to the regional economy.
Kate Haigh, Senior Executive for Sustainable Development at EEDA, said:
"1.6 million people live in coastal districts in the East of England and the area adds £24 billion to the UK economy each year. As such our coastal communities are huge contributors to the overall success of the region.
"However, our coastal areas face major challenges. The areas under-perform on most measures of economic vitality when compared to the East of England as a whole. In particular some areas suffer from deprivation and perennial unemployment and are also vulnerable to the effects of climate change, water stress, coastal erosion and flooding. If the region is to grow and meet its sustainable economic ambitions these issues need to be addressed, which is why today's summit and the Coastal Initiative are important steps forward for the region."
Ian Monson, Norfolk County Council's Cabinet member for Environment, said:
"In the long term, communities and the environment in the east of England will need to adapt to the changing circumstances of the years ahead, including the effects of climate change.
"This Initiative has been born from recognition among its partners that much more can be achieved, both in solving problems and seizing opportunities, if agencies and decision-makers work together, rather than in isolation. I hope this conference will be the start of closer co-operation that brings real results."
The conference at the Orbis Centre in Lowestoft will enable key local councils and other organisations to comment on the progress of the programme and provide further direction for the aims and objectives of the Coastal Initiative. It will also agree how the partners will work together to ensure effective delivery of the objectives.
The Minister for the East of England, Barbara Follett is supporting the Initiative, and has championed it within central government with the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The Minister will report back to these departments after the event with the evidence and potential solutions to dealing with the key challenges faced by coastal areas in the region.
The East of England is providing input into the development of policy relating to coasts including a new Planning Policy Statement (PPS20) on coastal erosion. Additionally, Defra and CLG have asked for specific input from the groups attending the conference in Lowestoft, which will be used for the development of this policy.
