Natural England

Natural England’s proposals to open up the length of the English coastline for public access went out to public consultation on 19 June.

Defra’s consultation exercise was launched at the White Cliffs of Dover by Environment Secretary David Miliband. It seeks views on a range of possible approaches to improving coastal access – but makes clear that Government is particularly interested in receiving views on Natural England’s bold new approach.

Natural England Chair Sir Martin Doughty explained: “We are advising Government to use new legislation to give us flexible new powers to align a suitable strip of access land around the English coast that people will be able to enjoy with confidence and certainty.”

Sir Martin said: “Natural England would concentrate, on sections of coast where access on foot is currently missing, defective, or insecure. The work would create a clear access corridor of varying width around the coast, with clifftop walks complemented by ‘spreading room’ en route such as beaches, dunes, headlands and viewpoints.”

Sir Martin added: “We are also looking to achieve significant environmental improvement around the coast, building on the excellent work to date of Environmental Stewardship and its predecessor schemes. We are particularly interested in rolling back the line of intensive agriculture from the cliff edge over time.”

Should Government decide following its consultation to proceed with the recommended way forward, Natural England envisages a ten-year implementation programme that would fully involve local authorities, farmers and landowners and other key local interests.

See the full press release.