Find out more about our annual erosion monitoring of the Hunstanton Cliffs
Monitoring purpose
The Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan recommended commencing annual and post storm terrestrial ‘light detection and ranging’ (known as terrestrial LiDAR) surveys of the Hunstanton Cliffs to monitor rates of coastal erosion.
These surveys will:
- Take place annually over an initial four-year period (likely to be extended).
- Be undertaken by the Environment Agency’s Anglian Coastal Monitoring Programme surveying contractors.
- Outcomes of survey will be assessed, and a report of outcomes produced by the British Geological Survey (BGS).
- Be financed from the Anglian Great Ouse ‘Regional Flood and Coastal Committee’ (RFCC) local levy fund and the Borough Council.
- Help inform when cliff top assets may become at risk from erosion and refine the timeline for when management may need to be implemented to reduce the rate of erosion (likely in 50 to 60 year’s time).
These reports are being made available to residents to help raise awareness of the processes occurring at the Hunstanton Cliffs.
Baseline survey (2010-2019)
As a starting point, we commissioned a baseline report to be produced by BGS which will form the foundation of the terrestrial LiDAR monitoring. This baseline report assessed erosion from four previous surveys undertaken by the Environment Agency’s coastal monitoring programme in 2010, 2012, 2017 and 2019.
The main conclusions from that report are:
- Between 2010-2019, the annual rate of cliff erosion was 7cm per year.
- The most active area of the cliff erosion is the middle section of cliffs.
- Annual monitoring should continue until at least 2024.
- Cliff erosion rates are in line with predictions from the Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan.
A copy of the full report can be downloaded below:
View the Hunstanton Cliffs Baseline Report
2020-21 annual survey
The first annual terrestrial LiDAR survey of the Hunstanton Cliffs was completed in 2020-21.
The main conclusions of this survey were:
- The mean rate of cliff erosion is 10cm per year.
- Overall, rates of erosion remain in line with previous surveys.
- The most active area of cliff erosion is the middle section of cliffs.
- Cliff erosion rates are in line with predictions from the Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan.
A copy of the full report can be downloaded below:
View the 2020/21 Cliff Monitoring Report
2022 annual survey
The second annual survey of the Hunstanton Cliffs was completed in April 2022.
The main conclusions of this survey were:
- The mean rate of cliff erosion is 11cm per year.
- The most active area of cliff erosion is the northern section of cliffs. In previous years, the middle section of cliffs was most active.
- Rates of erosion for the southern and middle sections of cliffs remain in line with previous surveys.
- Beach levels have fallen by approximately 2 meters across the whole cliff frontage between 2010 and 2022.
- Cliff erosion rates are in line with predictions from the Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan.
A copy of the full report can be downloaded below:
View the 2022 Cliff Monitoring Report
2023 annual survey
The third annual survey of the Hunstanton Cliffs was completed in April 2023. The main conclusions of this survey were:
- The mean rate of cliff erosion is 12.5cm per year.
- The most active area of cliff erosion is the northern cliff section.
- Overall, rates of erosion remain in line with previous surveys.
- Beach levels have fallen by approximately 2.5 meters across the whole cliff frontage between 2010 and 2024.
- Cliff erosion rates are in line with predictions from the Hunstanton Coastal Management Plan.
A copy of the full report can be downloaded below:
View the 2023 Cliff Monitoring Report
2024 annual survey
The fourth annual terrestrial LiDAR survey of the Hunstanton Cliffs was completed in April 2024. A report of outcomes is now being produced and will be published later in the year once completed.
Further information
If you need to speak to use about the Hunstanton Cliff monitoring, you can contact us any time by email at floodandwatermanagement@west-norfolk.gov.uk.