Help Shape Suffolk Village’s Future Amid Coastal Change

Monday, 18 August 2025 06:00

People living in, working in, or visiting Thorpeness are being invited to take part in a new survey aimed at helping the community prepare for a future shaped by rapid coastal change.

East Suffolk Council says recent monitoring shows an accelerated rate of erosion to the north of the village. Officers have met with homeowners to discuss safety measures and possible short-term interventions, as well as using drone technology to track beach movement.

The survey, developed with Thorpeness Parish Council, the Thorpeness Coastal Futures Group, and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, forms part of the Resilient Coasts project. It asks for views on life in the village, concerns about erosion and flooding, and ideas for adapting to future risks.

The guidance for Thorpeness under the Shoreline Management Plan is “managed realignment,” meaning measures may slow erosion but will not stop it entirely.

Cllr Mark Packard, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management, said the aim is to raise awareness and ensure the community is involved in finding solutions.

The survey is open online until the 14th September, with paper copies available on request. Results will be shared at a future community meeting to help shape an adaptation plan.

You can take part in the survey here.