National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping Project (NCERM)

"We are improving our understanding of coastal erosion and using local knowledge and the best available science to raise awareness now, so that we can all adapt together to our changing coast"

In 2006 Defra and the Welsh Government requested the Environment Agency to produce nationally consistent coastal erosion information and make it available to the public.

The Welsh Government recognised that, whilst coastal erosion information was already available from local authorities, the information had been produced using different approaches. As a consequence the Environment Agency was tasked with drawing the existing data together and displaying it consistently and clearly so that the public were able to access the latest information in an easy-to-view format.

The public already have access to information on flooding on the Environment Agency's website, and to complement the flooding information, information on the National Coastal Erosion Risk Maps (NCERM) will now also be available.

A series of online maps has been published showing coastal erosion risk as well as the proposed management for each stretch of coastline.

The maps are available here. 

These maps were developed in conjunction with local authorities and Coastal Groups and provide information on how coastal erosion could affect communities over the next hundred years. The maps also show how the coast is being managed and any defences that are in place.

This information will help local authorities, planners and developers plan investment on the coast, and the online maps will enable the public to have ready access to this information.

Plans are already in place to manage and adapt to coastal erosion in England and Wales, with Coastal Groups producing Shoreline Management Plans that set out long term policies about how to manage the risk of coastal erosion.

For further information on the Shoreline Management Plan for Ceredigion developed by the Cardigan Bay Coastal Group, please see the Shoreline Management Plan website: http://www.westofwalessmp.org/

If you would like more information on the coastal erosion maps, please contact hpw@ceredigion.gov.uk