The Holderness Coast in the north east of England stretches from the high chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head in the north to the sand spit of Spurn Point in the south. The low lying area of Holderness was deposited as boulder clay and outwash gravel and boulders by the retreating ice of the last glaciation about twelve thousand years ago. The coastline is quickly eroding along all of its length from Bridlington in the north to Easington in the south. The moraine cliffs at Barmston, south of Bridlington, have one of the highest rates of erosion in Europe, with the average rate of erosion along the Holderness coast quoted as 1.8m per annum. The coastline itself is comprised of low sedimentary cliffs, at the base of which are thin narrow beaches.

Find below information on the following topics relating to coastal erosion along the Holderness Coast:

Erosion Data & Aerial Photographs
Coastal Information Pack
Rollback Options
Publications
Overview of Holderness Coastal Erosion
Resources for Schools

Erosion Data & Aerial Photographs

Cliff Erosion Post Data

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council have been carrying out cliff erosion between Sewerby and Kilnsea since 1951. The following links show the erosion posts monitored and average erosion rates:

Link erosion post details from 1951 to March 2004

Link to Cliff Erosion Monitoring From Sewerby to Kilnsea Data Tables - March 2004

Erosion Rate Assessment

The geography department at the University of Hull have developed a website whereby colour aerial photographs showing 60 km of the Holderness coast have been overlaid with first edition 1852 Ordnance Survey maps. By clicking on the map, the user can bring up one kilometre strips of the Holderness coastline showing the rates of retreat. Link to erosion of the Holderness Coast.

Coastal Information Pack - East Riding of Yorkshire Council

The ERYC have developed an information pack which gives a wide range of information on its coastline together with details of the work it undertakes. The individual reports can be downloaded below. Alternatively hard copies can be obtained from the council at a cost of £8.

Development of the East Riding Coastline

Coastal Processes

Coastal Monitoring

Defending the East Riding Coastline

Spurn Peninsula

Cliff Erosion Monitoring Results from Flamborough Head to Spurn Point

Roll Back Options

The East Riding has one of the fastest eroding coastlines in Northwest Europe.The average rate of erosion over the whole length is 1.8 metres per year, however rates fluctuate enormously, both over time and from location to location, so accurate prediction is often difficult.
The concept of ‘Rollback’, in which businesses or dwellings physically move further inland away from the threat of coastal erosion has been identified as a way to furthering sustainable coastal economic, environmental and social infrastructure development. On the East Riding coast, the rollback response is particularly relevant to the caravan and holiday park industry. David Tyldesley and Associates were commissioned to carry out a study for the Rollback of caravan and holiday park homes and their associated infrastructure in the ICZM. The following reports determine the feasibility of the project with a view to integrating recommendations for guidelines and standards
for Rollback, including site clearance, pitch banking and environmental enhancement.

The Rollback of Caravan & Holiday Home Parks from the Eroding East Yorkshire Coastline. Final report to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council by David Tyldesley and Associates (2003).

Appendices.Final report to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council by David Tyldesley and Associates (2003).

Publications

Humber Estuary & Coast

Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS), 1994. - This report by IECS produced in 1994 for Humberside County Council provides an overview of the current knowledge on coastal processes and landforms in the Humberside and Lincolnshire coastal zone. The section on the Holderness coast provides information on the geology and physical processes operating at the coast, rates of erosion and coastal defence measures.

Humber Estuary & Coast report.

Humber Estuary & Coast - Management Issues

Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS), 1994. - This report provides guidance to assist coastal planners, managers, engineers and environmental scientists involved in the management of the Humberside coastline.

Humber Estuary & Coast Management Issues

Living with the Sea

An English Nature publication describing the impacts of coastal change and sea level rise. Living with the Sea - Future Coastlines for people and wildlife. Link to Living with the Sea.

Planning's Last Frontier

Symes, D. 1993. Coastal Zone Management: Planning's Last Frontier. The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Review, Volume 3 No. 2: July. The issue of coastal erosion is addressed within this report. Link to paper.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council - ICZM Plan

The theme of coastal erosion and shoreline management was addressed in the newly published East Riding Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan under the section 'Managing the Coast'. East Riding of Yorkshire Council (2002). ICZM plan.

Holderness District Plan

The Holderness District Wide Local Plan was adopted in 1999. This includes a chapter relating to the Holderness coast, coast erosion, planning, shoreline management plan. Link to Holderness District Plan then click on 'start'.

Coastal Erosion - Back to Nature

Article by Neil Punnett on Coastal erosion - Back to Nature. Geofile, September 2000. Link to paper.

Erosion along the Holderness Coast

The geography department at the University of Hull provides a website with information on the history and geography of cliff erosion along the Holderness coast. Link to Hull geography department.

Overview of Holderness Coast Erosion

NERC

General information about the Holderness coastline. Link to NERC

Erosion

Specific information about erosion on the Holderness coast. Link to erosion.

History of Erosion

A site detailing the history of coastal erosion and lost parishes along the Holderness coast. Link to history.

Hull Daily Mail

Newspaper clippings of the stories written in the Hull Daily Mail about the eroding Holderness coastline. Link to newspaper articles.

Government documents and other related information on erosion impacts

In order to gain a better understanding of the risk arising from flooding and coastal erosion, DEFRA commissioned a study to review a National Appraisal of Assets at Risk from Flooding and Coastal Erosion, including the potential impact of climate change. Report to DEFRA by Halcrow, July 2001. Link to report.

Resources for schools

Calculating Cliff Erosion

Mathematical formulae for calculating the rates of erosion along the Holderness coast. A site provided by the Nuffield Curriculum Centre. Link