Manhood Peninsula Partnership
The Manhood Peninsula Partnership was established by members of the community concerned about the future management of this particularly low-lying and vulnerable coastline in the face of climate change.
They were particularly keen to ensure that key responsible organisations, Local Authorities and stakeholders were working effectively together to a common vision, in light of the extensive changes to the coastline being planned through the Coastal Defence Strategy process.
In 2001 the community members organised a conferenceon the Manhood Peninsula called Going Dutch, to which they invited a large panel of Dutch coastal experts to meet with UK planners, coastal engineers and local people. The aim was to discuss the problems and identify innovative solutions and a vision for how their coastline could look in the future and how their community and local economy could be adapted to fit into this vision.
The MPP was born out of this conference and in 2002 was key to the success of the ESPACE (European Spatial Planning; Adapting to Climate Events) project receiving funding from the EU, as an ideal case study on spatial planning for climate change adaptation.
The Project Officer employed through the ESPACE project, Fran Wallington, facilitated workshops and other community engagement work to formulate a vision for the area and produced an Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan.
This plan formed the basis of the work of six Implementation Management Teams each covering one of six topics:
1. Spatial and Development Planning
2. Water supply and Management
3. Landscape and Land Management
4. Tourism and Recreation
5. Energy
6. Communication and Awareness
In 2007, the ESPACE project came to an end and the MPP carried out a review of the success of the programme and held a feedback event for the community on progress with the Adaptation Action Plan. (see Manhood_Peninsula_Achievement_Report.pdf)
In 2008 a draft Coastal Defence Strategy was produced by the Environment Agency and Chichester and Arun District Councils, and in order to address community concerns, the MPP hosted Going Dutch II, a second conference involving experts from Holland, the findings of which are being fed into the consultation process.
The MPP continues to be an active vibrant partnership, and an important forum for discussion of topics relating to the integrated management of the coastal zone.
It remains one of the best examples of community driven Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in the face of climate change in the UK. One of it’s key successes has been bringing together active representatives from across a variety of sectors.
Contact Email:
Organisation:
West Sussex County Council
Funding Details:
Between 2002 and 2007 the MPP Project Officer was funded by the ESPACE Project and West Sussex County Council with Chichester District Council acting as the secretariat.
From 2008, the project enters a new phase as a partnership project comprising of funding from WSCC, CDC, Environment Agency, Natural England, Selsey Town Council, Sidlesham PC, West Itchenor PC, North Mundham PC and Hunston PC.
Status:
Ongoing
Website relating to case study:
http://www.climateforchange.org.uk
Organisation’s website:
http://www.espace-project.org/Library/Partner_Docs_WSCC.htm
Keywords relating to this case study:
Manhood peninsula, climate change, adaptation, Coastline management, managed realignment, community engagement, facilitated workshops, ICZM, Coastal Defence Strategy, Going Dutch, stakeholder engageme
South East groups case study relates to:
Communities
