Future Coast Bude

The Future Coast Bude project is funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme (FCIP), which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programme will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate. Future Coast Bude is one of several projects around the country funded through the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) portion of this fund.

The approach to how we address a changing coastline for Bude (and the country) are set out in national plans known as the Shoreline Management Plan. The aim of Future Coast Bude isContinue reading

The approach to how we address a changing coastline for Bude (and the country) are set out in national plans known as the Shoreline Management Plan. The aim of Future Coast Bude is to encourage the more sustainable use and development of the coastal fringe in line with the national plan, whilst considering the social and economic challenges presented by a naturally changing coastal environment.

What is the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP)?

The Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) helps communities to plan for coastal change in the long term, including:

interventions such as improving and replacing damaged community infrastructure like beach access or coastal transport links,
repurposing land in coastal erosion zones for different uses, and
restoring and creating habitats to include green buffer zones.

Local authorities in the South West have been allocated £6 million in funding to improve the resilience of communities to the effects of coastal erosion and benefit the local economy. Bude is one of only two communities in the South West who will share this funding. For Bude the project will be delivered by Cornwall Council supported by the Environment Agency.

What can the £3 million funding be used for?

The funding can be used to promote adaptation actions to help communities transition away from an eroding coastline. Things the Future Coast Bude funding can be spent on include:

Moving structures, amenities and properties away from risk at the coast
Changing land use in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion
Making changes to community infrastructure, such as car parks or toilet blocks, so that the impact of coastal erosion on them is minimised
Looking into how funding can be secured for changes that will need to be made to adapt to a changing coastline
Working with the planning authority to ensure coastal change is taken into account
Working with businesses, community groups, as well as the wider public to help inform decisions.

Is there anything the funding can't be spent on?

The funding has been allocated to allow communities to adapt to change. It can be used in locations where the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) policy is for Managed Realignment (MR). i.e. Summerleaze and Crooklets

The programme will not fund:

The building of any new flood defences
Any activity in areas where the Shoreline Management Plan policy is for ‘Hold the Line’ (HTL) i.e work to the breakwater
Activities that should take place as Business as Usual or routine maintenance
Any work to address damage caused by storm
Any work to undertake coastal clean up

What sort of thing might Future Coast Bude deliver?

Future Coast Bude will explore with the community a plan for coastal change. This will include:

The development of a Coastal Change Management Plan (CCMP). This is designated through the Local Plan and is required where changes are expected to the coast in the next 100 years.
The introduction of a Coastal Change Management Area (CCMA) in areas not identified as ‘Hold the line’ in the Shoreline Management Plan. This can then be used to inform planning and management decisions in the future.
Undertaking a transport and accessibility study which will help to determine how and when people access the beaches and local areas in Bude and how this can be improved in the future.
Making plans for the future for infrastructure on the coast that may be impacted by sea level rise and coastal erosion.

Other opportunities that will be explored with the community include the potential:

Relocating of public facilities to alternative locations to make sure they can still be used by the public in the future
Relocating emergency services facilities, so that they can remain operational in the future
Designing facilities in the future in a way that will help them adapt and respond to climate change (for example the Gig Club has been designed so it can be relocated)
Decommissioning parts of the carpark which are currently covered by the dunes
Improving accessibility to and at the coast.

Sand Rails Access Work Update - 2 June 2025

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Cormac have been continuing to work on the sand tram way sloping revetment by dismantling the old structure and re-building the revetment with a concrete foundation. They are also providing drainage to the structure - something that the original revetment lacked.
The old revetment blockwork has been removed and sorted, with the intention to re-use as much of the original blockwork as possible.
After weeks of good weather, the recent change in weather has proved challenging. Recent high tides have also prevented work on the lower section of the revetment at times. However, works have proceeded elsewhere on site.
The next week's work will focus on the rebuilding of the short wall next to the siding higher up the revetment, whilst waiting for the delivery of the tramway replacement rails.
Sand Rails Walkway – Why the Work Was Needed

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In May 2023, the lower section of the sand railway walkway near Summerleaze was closed on public safety grounds due to significant erosion caused by wave action. Inspections revealed two main issues:
- The canal wall between the walkway and the river had been weakened by wave damage, including the loss of mortar and the formation of voids (holes).
- The walkway surface itself had become uneven and unsafe, particularly for those using wheelchairs, pushchairs or with limited mobility.
Early in 2025, Cornwall Council commissioned essential repair works to stabilise the canal embankment. This included filling identified voids and repointing missing mortar along the sea wall. These initial repairs were funded through Cornwall Council’s capital maintenance budget.
What Happens Next?
Further improvement works to the walkway are now part of Future Coast Bude, supported by funding from Defra as part of the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP). Future Coast Bude is one of several projects across England being delivered under the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme, managed by the Environment Agency.
The additional funding will allow:
- Resurfacing of the walkway to provide safer and more accessible access to the beach
- Preservation of key historic features where possible
- A broader review of land use along the beachfront at Crooklets and Summerleaze in light of future coastal change
Work to resurface the walkway is being carried out by Cormac, with completion expected before the 2025 summer holidays.
If you have any questions about this work, please contact: futurecoastbude@cornwall.gov.uk