Guidance to support long term adaptation and resilience of our coastal communities

Our changing coast

Coastal erosion and flooding (including erosion enhanced flooding) will affect society in many ways, impacting transport, power and water infrastructure, recreation, and businesses.

Over the last thirty years sea level across Scotland has risen between two and three times faster than over the previous 100 years. Scotland’s 21,000 km long and complex coastline is where much of our critical national infrastructure is located, with almost half the population living within 8km of the coast. Coastal erosion and flooding affects more of our erodible shore than in the past, with the rate of erosion expected to quicken under all climate change emissions scenarios. Sea level rise due to climate change will result in an almost doubling of the number of properties considered to be at coastal erosion and flood risk in Scotland by 2080s.

Aims of the Coast Change Adaptation Guidance

This guidance aims to support local authorities and their partners across Scotland in planning for our future climate at the coast, and to support long term adaptation and resilience of coastal communities.

This guidance has been produced to help local authorities begin their coastal adaptation journey. It encourages collaborative working across coast protection authorities, planning authorities, community planning partnerships, public sector environment and asset management teams, community members and other stakeholders.

This guidance has been developed by a steering group comprising Scottish Government, SEPA, local authorities, Dynamic Coast Project Team, NatureScot and Verture, throught the Adaptation Scotland programme.