Coastal realignment = creating an engineered new position of a coastline
● Managed retreat = when a decision is made to no longer follow a “hold the line” strategy for managing
coastal flooding and erosion
○ People are moved out
○ Buildings are demolished
○ Breach is made in the existing sea defences so sea can flood the land and create new habitats
○ Offers sustainable long term solution to global warming
Advantages:
● Social
○ May help take pressure off areas further
along the coast and reduce risk of
flooding there
● Economic
○ Cheaper in long term to use managed
realignment than continue to maintain
hard engineering defences
● Environmental
○ Designed to conserve/enhance natural
environment
○ Created new habitats → compensate
for those lost
Disadvantages:
● Social
○ Relocation causes disruption and
distress
○ People feel “let down” by managed
retreat → money could be used
elsewhere
● Economic
○ Short-term costs high
○ Relocation costs have to be paid
● Environmental
○ Large areas of agricultural land are lost
○ Habitats of coastal birds are lost