St Austell, and China Clay Area Regeneration Plan

Coast Review - 2010

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is not to comprehensively repeat existing evidence but to point to it and draw out any place specific issues for the , St Blazey and China Clay Area Regeneration Plan area (hereafter referred to as the Plan area).

This paper should be read in conjunction with the Core Strategy topic paper ‘Coast and Maritime’, which sets out a number of key messages with regard to the coast generally – this is available at www..gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22887 . These will be important considerations for the Regeneration Plan but are not repeated here.

Key issues Key overarching issues for the coast generally as identified in the Core Strategy Coast and Maritime issues paper are:

• To consider opportunities for: - The regeneration of coastal towns and how ports and harbours can be developed and supported. - The protection and enhancement of natural and historic habitats and features (terrestrial and marine). • Address sea level rise.

Plan Area issues 1. Protection of undeveloped coast. 2. Protection and enhancement of the AONB – including the part of the AONB within the plan area (i.e. Black Head/ area south of Porthpean ) and any impacts on area of AONB adjoining the plan area. 3. Need to Balance of recreation/tourism/development opportunities and pressures with need to safeguard character, quality, diversity, and local distinctiveness of natural and historic environment and the undeveloped coast. 4. Flooding issues (see Flooding Review paper re flooding risk at Par, St Blazey and Pentewan). 5. Implications of sea level rise and coastal change 1. Need to consider identification of Coastal Change Management Areas. Draft SMP2 suggests Par and possibly Pentewan. Local authorities are required by PPS25 supplement to identify areas likely to be affected by physical changes to the coast and identify theses as Coastal Change Management Areas. Local Planning Authorities are required to set out plans for these areas regarding location/relocation of development to secure long term sustainable future of coastal. Particular issues will be management of the natural migration process of par dunes – consideration of future of Par Sands holiday park, and coastal squeeze issues. 6. Future role of Par Harbour. Retention of china clay processing uses at Par docks is required. Need to ensure any surrounding uses/development are planned as to enable china clay processing uses to proceed without conflict. 7. Future use of Charlestown Harbour.

1 Coastal change is defined as in PPS25 Supplement as physical change to the shoreline, i.e. erosion, coastal landslip, permanent inundation and coastal accretion. 1

8. Protection of Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage Site at Charlestown; and Conservation Areas at Pentewan and Charlestown. 9. Consider whether there is a need to define coastal zone (see Core Strategy Topic Issues Paper - Coast and Maritime). 10. Further ecological assessment required to ensure conservation of terrestrial, inter- tidal and sub-tidal habitats. There is a Local Nature Reserve at Par. There are marine and coastal Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats present in the area, such as mudflats, sand dunes, eelgrass which could be affected by any regeneration proposals and would in most instances need to be compensated for with like for like habitats. 11. Need to avoid pollution of coastal waters. 12.Need to maintain and improve coastal access (Marine and Coastal Access Act).

Key messages

Message Relevant Documents/ref 1. PDZ 3 Gribbin Head to Black Head -some sensitivity Draft SMP2 ch4 PDZ3 p6 to sea level rise, with most beaches being constrained by hard cliffs or hard defences – a situation which will increase pressure and result in coastal squeeze with a subsequent narrowing of the beach and a steepening of the beach slope. Par 2. LDF to identify Par Sands areas as a Coastal Change Draft SMP2 (Action plan- Management Area 6.3) 3. The already significant flood risks at Par will be Draft SMP2 ch 4 PDZ3 p 15 exacerbated in the future due to sea level rise Cornwall Sand Dune study, 4. Careful management of the dune system at Par will in Draft SMP2 ch4 PDZ3 p15 be necessary in order to prevent inundation of the low lying land behind. Dunes and beach at Par likely to be able to adapt to climate change and unlikely to experience significant problems in the short to medium term. 5. The land use planning system will need to consider Draft SMP2 ch4 PDZ3 p15 the value of the par holiday park in situ versus the constraints it will place upon a natural migration of the dune system. The value of the area as a UK BAP Habitat must be acknowledged and potential enhancement of the site could be achieved through expanding the area which is available for the dunes to migrate within. 6. At western end of Par Dunes historic landfill site Draft SMP2 ch 4 PDZ3 p 15 could possibly be impacted upon by erosion by 2105. 7. Investigate landfill risks and identify possible Draft SMP2 ch 4 PDZ3 p17 strategy for Managed Retreat and Dune roll back into hinterland. 8. Par Docks preferred policy - some realignment to Draft SMP2 ch 4 PDZ3 p17 allow for sea level rise and to improve longer term sustainability should be considered in line with Par sands and to move towards a non-interventional frontage. 9. Future development/adaptation of Par Docks could Draft SMP ch4 p6 affect coastal processes and Par Beach

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10.Presence of Imerys haulage route into par docks will Draft SMP2 ch 4 PDZ3 p 15 require consideration – could dictate position of future defence line or may require re-routing. 11.The future of par as a commercial handling port is /Par Bulk Transport severely limited because of the depth of water. Study, 2009, MDS Export of secondary aggregate alone is unlikely to Transmodal provide a sustainable business. 12.Dredging of the port in itself is not a solution in itself and would necessitate renewal of the quay wall to match the new dredged depth. 13.Investment in Par unlikely whilst Fowey has potential to meet all demand for shipments of secondary aggregates without the need for capital investment at least in the short term Ecological assessment of 14.Coastal zone at Par Sands experiences significant Coastal Zone Management pressure from recreation and sets out Issues at par Sands, recommendations for management and nature Cornwall 2005. Spalding conservation Associates for CCC Pentewan 15.100m of beach recession is predicted at Pentewan Draft SMP2 ch4 PDZ4 p15 in the area of the caravan park and . Pentewan may be appropriate area for consideration as a Coastal Change Management Areas. 16. Preferred policy - Allow beach to respond naturally Draft SMP2 ch4 4 PDZ4 p20 to sea level rise. Avoid constraining and reduction in beach width. Guide land use planning towards a roll back policy through managed realignment in the medium term. 17.Pentewan Harbour and village – Managed Draft SMP2 ch 4 PDZ4 p20 realignment proposed in short/medium term then Hold the Line to provide more flexibility to address flood risk and facilitate local redevelopment. Carlyon Bay 18.Carlyon Bay - preferred policy for Carlyon Bay is no Draft SMP2 Ch4 PDZ3 p 21, active intervention. In view of anticipated & p25 development proposals – a suitable position for any permanent defensive line (which would need to be established to protect any development) would be critical to the long term sustainability of the foreshore. Ensuring that any structures re set back far enough back from the predicted mean high water position in 2105 would be critical. Duporth 19.Despite recent loss of sections of coast path at SMP2 Ch4 PDZ3 p23 and Duporth due to cliff erosion no justification for cliff P25 stabilisation/intervention. Porthpean 20.Porthpean allow managed retreat to allow more SMP2 ch 4 PDZ3 page 25 sustainable shoreline management position to become established. Charlestown 21.Charlestown (harbour and west beach) - Preferred SMP2 ch 4 PDZ3 page 25 policy – some realignment of defensive line seaward proposed.

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22.Conservation Area Character Appraisal required for Core Strategy Place based Charlestown Issues paper, St Austell 23.Detailed archaeological study required of historic Core Strategy Place based harbours to inform management strategy Issues paper, St Austell Other 24.Defended sections of cliffs PDZ3 Gribbin Head to SMP2 ch 4 PDZ3 page 25 Black Head – no active intervention proposed.

CONTEXT

Key coastal features of the Regeneration Plan Area • and includes communities of Par, Carlyon Bay, Duporth, Porthpean and Pentewan as well as open countryside, tourist amenities and agricultural land. The bay faces south and is a rocky embayment that is relatively protected and rich in sediment with sandy beaches at Par Sands and Carlyon Bay (Crinnis, Shorthorn and Polgaver) Porthpean and Duporth. • Defences and harbour, port and quay structures exist at Par Sands (including defacto defences due to the rail link embankment) Par Docks, Charlestown (privately owned and maintained harbour structures) and seawalls at Porthpean which are owned and maintained by (Draft SMP2) and Pentewan (harbour and quay structures). • Beaches providing local amenity value and important features for tourism and the local economy. • Charlestown including the historic fishing harbour is within the Cornish and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site and is Conservation Area. • Pentewan Conservation Area. • Carlyon Bay – (Crinnis, Shorthorn beach and coliseum site) has extant planning permission for holiday accommodation and associated facilities. A new planning application is anticipated. • AONB coastal areas west of Porthpean. The AONB and Heritage coast extends eastwards from Par Sands. • Regionally important Geological and Geomorphological sites in the area at Black Head to Ropehaven, Duporth, Carlyon Bay East and Carlyon Bay West and Point Gamas 2. • Par Sands – 10 ha of active BAP dune system backed by nature reserve area of standing water, reed beds, marsh ground, scrub, woodland and plantation. Dune system considered to be under pressure from holiday park, car park and footpaths 3. • Landscape/Seascape (see Biodiversity and Landscape Review Paper and Core Strategy Issues Topic Paper – Landscape and Seascape) ) • BAP habitats present, e.g. mudflats, sand dunes, eelgrass (in various places within the bay) which could be affected by any regeneration. • Pentewan Valley trail. • Localised cliff fall at Charlestown, Duporth and Porthpean (loss of sections of South West Coast path).

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Shoreline Management Plan (Draft SMP2) Key message from the draft SMP2 relating to the Plan area are set out in the table above. The plan area includes part of two SMP Policy Development Zones (PDZs) – everything west of black head is within PDZ 4 Black Head to Zone Point, and

2 As identified by Cornwall RIGS group 3 Draft SMP 2 ch 4 4 everything east of Black Head is within PDZ 3 Gribbin Head to Black Head. The SMP2 sets out the broad intent for the area:-

• Draft SMP2 PDZ3 (Gribbin Head to Black Head) management intent The provision of a ‘yellow lung’ for the significant settlement of St Austell, and those that are situated on the immediate frontage itself, maintaining the community viability of Par through reducing flood risk and maintaining the tourism and recreation amenity value of the area including the historic harbour at Charlestown. Natural shoreline processes recognised in the Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS) designations drive the need to allow such processes to occur in St Austell Bay especially as sediment input to the beaches may decline as china clay activity decreases.

• Draft SMP2 PDZ4 (Black Head to Zone point) management intent Supports adaptation of communities to coastal change, establishing more sustainable long term shoreline position for pocket beaches and coves.

Supporting documents • Core strategy Topic Paper - Coast and Maritime http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22887 includes links to key policy documents (national, regional and local) and identifies key issues and key messages for Cornwall coast and coast generally. • Core Strategy Place-Based papers to be on line shortly at http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22887 - St Austell Community Network Area - St Blazey, Fowey and Community Network Area - China Clay Community Network Area • Cornwall and isles of Scilly Shoreline Management Plan 2 (Draft SMP2) (to be finalised and on line shortly at www.ciscag.org ). • Fowey/Par Bulk Transport Study, 2009 MDS Transmodal http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=15721 • Ecological assessment of Coastal Zone Management Issues at Par sands, Cornwall, 2005.

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