Coastal communities will get new planning powers to help their local economy and tourist industry, Housing and Planning Minister John Healey announced today.

Temporary, cost effective recreation projects such as beach huts, cafes and car-parks that can boost the local economy will be considered by councils in areas at risk of coastal erosion for the first time.

Under the new planning policy, published for consultation today, all inappropriate residential development such as housing will continue to be banned in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion. But there will no longer be a blanket ban on temporary development that has wider economic benefits, an acceptable coastal use and could be relocated when required.

Mr Healey said: "What we're hearing from coastal communities is that right now temporary development that would be beneficial to the area's economy and tourist industry is unable to go ahead. It's really important for local business that they can keep going at this time of economic difficulties.

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"That's why we’re proposing to change the planning rules to allow safe time-limited development such as beach huts, car-parks and cafes to be built in coastal areas if there’s an economic benefit.

"Coastal communities are having to think hard about their long-term future and viability as climate change accelerates the risk of coastal erosion. It’s vital that we react to environmental challenges as well as economic challenges and ensure that coastal communities can carry on."

Significant sections of the coast of England including Suffolk, Lincolnshire, north Norfolk and East Riding are affected by coastal erosion, which may speed up because of climate change.

The Environment Agency is currently mapping coastal erosion rates for the next hundred years giving communities a better idea of how the changing coastline will affect them. The erosion information is very closely linked to the Shoreline Management Plans and will be published alongside the SMPs between autumn 2009 and 2011.

The new policy aims to strike the right balance between economic prosperity and adaptation to coastal change.

Councils must also carry out a strategic risk-based approach to managing future physical changes to the coastline for the long-term adaptation of communities.

(CD/KMcA)