New English coastal route

New Act opens up prospect of public access to English shoreline

With the passing of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Part 9 of the Act (Coastal Access), which comes into force on 22nd January 2010, requires Natural England and the Secretary of State to secure two objectives :

1. The creation of a route for the whole of the English coast which consists of one or more long-distance routes along which the public are enabled to make recreational journeys on foot or by ferry, and (except to the extent that it is completed by ferry) passes over land which is accessible to the public.
2. That, in association with that route (“the English coastal route”), a margin of land along the length of the English coast is accessible to the public for the purposes of its enjoyment by them in conjunction with that route or otherwise, except to the extent that the margin of land is relevant excepted land.

This duty imposed on Natural England and the Secretary of State is referred to as the coastal access duty, and is to be discharged by them in such stages and within such period as appear to them to be appropriate.  Within 12 months of the relevant section coming into force (ie by 12th January 2011) Natural England must prepare a scheme setting out the approach it will take when discharging the coastal access duty, and submit it to the Secretary of State for approval, with or without modification.

 

Date Added: 17th November 2009