Development in undefended coastal flood plain

The policy provides opportunity for new development in the undefended coastal flood plain on the basis that infilling and land raising to an appropriate level above the flood plain will have a negligible effect on the extent of the coastal flood plain, now or in the future, taking account of anticipated climate change. Accordingly, such development will not result in additional flood risk elsewhere in the coastal flood plain. In order to minimise the potential incidence of coastal erosion to the development (or elsewhere as a result of it), particularly in areas of 'soft' coastline, the exception applies only within settlements where a built footprint will have already been established.