Coastal Erosion

The Holderness Coast in the north east of England stretches for 61½ km from the high chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head in the north to the sand spit of Spurn Point in the south. Renowned for having the highest erosion rates in Europe, the Holderness coast is quoted as eroding at 1.8m per annum. The coastline itself is comprised of low sedimentary cliffs, at the base of which are thin narrow beaches.

For specific erosion issues found within this parish see the following links:

University of Hull

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. The following links show aerial photos and map overlays of coastal erosion along the Hornsea parish coastline - taken from the University of Hull geography departments website.
Link to Coastal Stretch 1
Link to Coastal Stretch 2
Link to Coastal Stretch 3
Link to Coastal Stretch 4

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. Link to report.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council have been carrying out cliff erosion between Sewerby and Kilnsea since 1951. The following three links show the 116 erosion posts monitored and average erosion rates
Link to Erosion posts 1 to 39
Link to Erosion posts 40 to 78
Link to Erosion posts 79 to 116

NERC

Link to information on coastal defences and erosion issues at Hornsea

Internet Geography

Link to 'Internet Geography' site giving the geology and coastal features of Hornsea

Shoreline Management Plans

Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) are non-statutory documents aimed at producing sustainable policies for the coastal defence of the shorelines around the UK. SMPs are prepared to take into account natural coastal processes and issues relating to the environment and human needs. Coastal defence is the protection of the coastline from erosion and flooding by the sea.

Use the following links to find out management options for this Parish:

Humber Estuary Coastal Advisory Group SMP

The SMP addressing the section of coastline between Flamborough Head to Donna Nook was produced by Posford Haskoning (formerly Posford Duvivier) for HECAG and splits this section of coastline into eighteen management units. The following links take you to the relevant sections to the Parish of Hornsea.

Link to Management Unit 5 of the HECAG SMP covers issues relating to the Parish of Hornsea.

Link to Management Unit 6 of the HECAG SMP covers issues relating to the Parish of Hornsea.

Link to the full text of the HECAG Shoreline Management Plan (Posford Duvivier, 1998)

For more information on this topic search under the general Erosion and Flooding section.