Managed Realignment Lecture 2015, London

Overview

Managed realignment is an approach that involves altering the location of the line of defence against coastal, estuarine or fluvial flooding.

The need for managed realignment is driven by a number of factors, including development, climate change and increasing cost to maintain and replace front line coastal defences. With such pressures on-going, the need for managed realignment continues, but it is becoming harder to locate sites for future projects. So what lessons have we learnt so far?

The event will highlight two managed realignment schemes, drawing out the key learning points for application to future projects:

• Alkborough on the Humber Estuary is an example of a large scale realignment specifically designed to achieve a reduction in flood risk elsewhere - read our case study on managed realignment at Alkborough.
• Medmerry is the first open coast realignment scheme in the UK, protecting more than 350 homes and creating intertidal habitat to compensate for losses due to coastal squeeze - read our case study on managed realignment at Medmerry

The future of managed realignment in the UK will also be discussed.