Morecambe & Heysham
Case Study - Morecambe & Heysham
Location: Morecambe - SE edge of Morecambe Bay, south of Lake District National
Park. Heysham - near Lancaster overlooking Morecambe Bay. 8.5km
stretch of coastline.
Reason for protection: Large proportion of local economy is based on tourism,
hospitality along seafront
Lots of settlement, infrastructure
Two nuclear power stations
Whole area has many ancient sites managed by National
Trust - SSSI and SAC
Area is vulnerable to storm surges, rising sea levels and
erosion
Protection encourages economic regeneration, attracts
investors
Management types: Rock Armour
Gabions
Concrete Revetments and Sea Wall
Traditional Recurved Sea Wall
Fish Tail Breakwater (rock groynes)
Beach Nourishment
Defence options (SMPs): Do nothing: No investment in flood defences, coast is
allowed to erode/flood.
Managed retreat: Allow coastline to erode but manage the
process to direct it in certain areas
Hold the line: Building coastal defences so position of
shoreline remains the same over time
Advance the line: Build new coastal defences, usually
involves land reclamation
Key stakeholders: Lancaster City Council - Local planning, management
Environment Agency - Flood defences, coastal protection
EDF Energy - Heysham nuclear power stations
Tourism Businesses - contributes to economy
Local residents - input on planning
Morecambe Bay Partnership - Focus on sustainability,
heritage
Main land-use: Hotels and guest houses lining the promenade
Town centre including traditional seaside resort facilities
Heysham nuclear power station and Heysham port
Sandstone cliffs of Heysham Head - site of historical and
ecological importance
, Coastal Management Timeline:
Case Study - Morecambe & Heysham
1977: Major flood event - 6.6m high waves recorded at Heysham, 1300 properties flooded,
sea wall overtopped.
1983: Extreme flood event, wave reflection wall overtopped. 1516 properties flooded and old
sea wall seriously weakened.
1989: Defences built in a 7 phase programme costing £28 million. Strategy 1: Rock
armour/rip rap to enhance and protect existing sea wall. Made of locally sourced limestone.
1990: Two day storm coincided with spring tides, 1.5m surge resulted in 6.5m above normal
levels. £2 million damage to sea walls, 150 properties damaged. Total costs of £21 million.
1991-2007:
Strategy 2: Installation of 10 breakwaters and groynes. 1 million tonnes of locally
sourced limestone
Strategy 3: Traditional recurved sea wall, much of the promenade already had existing
sea walls so in many places they were repaired and reinforced
Strategy 4: 500+ cages of gabions filled with small limestone boulders used in various
locations
Strategy 5: Concrete revetment and sea wall were repaired to the West of Heysham
Head, extending to port and power stations
2018: Morecambe’s £10.8 million sea wall officially opened.
Successes Challeneges
Sea walls, rock armour, groynes have
High costs: multi-million pound
reduced flood risk
investments and expensive maintenance
Improvements along Morecambe’s
Limited long-term sustainability
promenade helped attract visitors
Altered natural sediment movement,
Heysham port and nuclear power stations
affecting local ecosystems
safeguarded from erosion
Uneven protection - some areas more
Involvement of local groups has
vulnerable where defences may be older
improved awareness and support
Case Study - Morecambe & Heysham
Location: Morecambe - SE edge of Morecambe Bay, south of Lake District National
Park. Heysham - near Lancaster overlooking Morecambe Bay. 8.5km
stretch of coastline.
Reason for protection: Large proportion of local economy is based on tourism,
hospitality along seafront
Lots of settlement, infrastructure
Two nuclear power stations
Whole area has many ancient sites managed by National
Trust - SSSI and SAC
Area is vulnerable to storm surges, rising sea levels and
erosion
Protection encourages economic regeneration, attracts
investors
Management types: Rock Armour
Gabions
Concrete Revetments and Sea Wall
Traditional Recurved Sea Wall
Fish Tail Breakwater (rock groynes)
Beach Nourishment
Defence options (SMPs): Do nothing: No investment in flood defences, coast is
allowed to erode/flood.
Managed retreat: Allow coastline to erode but manage the
process to direct it in certain areas
Hold the line: Building coastal defences so position of
shoreline remains the same over time
Advance the line: Build new coastal defences, usually
involves land reclamation
Key stakeholders: Lancaster City Council - Local planning, management
Environment Agency - Flood defences, coastal protection
EDF Energy - Heysham nuclear power stations
Tourism Businesses - contributes to economy
Local residents - input on planning
Morecambe Bay Partnership - Focus on sustainability,
heritage
Main land-use: Hotels and guest houses lining the promenade
Town centre including traditional seaside resort facilities
Heysham nuclear power station and Heysham port
Sandstone cliffs of Heysham Head - site of historical and
ecological importance
, Coastal Management Timeline:
Case Study - Morecambe & Heysham
1977: Major flood event - 6.6m high waves recorded at Heysham, 1300 properties flooded,
sea wall overtopped.
1983: Extreme flood event, wave reflection wall overtopped. 1516 properties flooded and old
sea wall seriously weakened.
1989: Defences built in a 7 phase programme costing £28 million. Strategy 1: Rock
armour/rip rap to enhance and protect existing sea wall. Made of locally sourced limestone.
1990: Two day storm coincided with spring tides, 1.5m surge resulted in 6.5m above normal
levels. £2 million damage to sea walls, 150 properties damaged. Total costs of £21 million.
1991-2007:
Strategy 2: Installation of 10 breakwaters and groynes. 1 million tonnes of locally
sourced limestone
Strategy 3: Traditional recurved sea wall, much of the promenade already had existing
sea walls so in many places they were repaired and reinforced
Strategy 4: 500+ cages of gabions filled with small limestone boulders used in various
locations
Strategy 5: Concrete revetment and sea wall were repaired to the West of Heysham
Head, extending to port and power stations
2018: Morecambe’s £10.8 million sea wall officially opened.
Successes Challeneges
Sea walls, rock armour, groynes have
High costs: multi-million pound
reduced flood risk
investments and expensive maintenance
Improvements along Morecambe’s
Limited long-term sustainability
promenade helped attract visitors
Altered natural sediment movement,
Heysham port and nuclear power stations
affecting local ecosystems
safeguarded from erosion
Uneven protection - some areas more
Involvement of local groups has
vulnerable where defences may be older
improved awareness and support
