PROPOSALS to move a number of assets further inland in the face of coastal erosion could become a reality in Bude.

Cornwall Council’s environment, resilience and adaptation team have identified a number of coast-facing properties in its ownership at Crooklets and Summerleaze which could become a thing of the past in the face of anticipated diminishment of the coastline.

A Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) is a voluntary, project-management tool between a local planning authority and an applicant, in this instance the council’s project management team to manage a significant development proposal, such as a major or complex application.

It establishes a framework to agree on timescales, actions, and resources for handling the application from the pre-application stage through to its determination, intending to ensure a more efficient and collaborative process.

In the proposals submitted to Cornwall Council, the team behind the Future Coast Bude project is seeking to get a plan in place so that in the coming years, a beach car park, a coast path, two toilet blocks and two sets of beach huts might be moved further in land when they become due for replacement.

In the document, it states: “Several key assets around Bude are vulnerable to coastal change and sea level rise, the Future Coast Bude project is providing funding to increase the resilience of this area to coastal change, with a deadline spend of March 2027.

“These assets include the Crooklets car park, Summerleaze Downs coast path, Summerleaze and Crooklets beach huts, Summerleaze toilet block, Crooklets toilets. Improving the long-term adaption and resilience of this infrastructure can be achieved by constructing alternative facilities further from the risk zone, so that when existing facilities need to be decommissioned there is no gap in provision.”

Further documentation as part of the application reveal some of the work taking place as part of the scheme.

At Crooklets car parks, specifically the existing tarmac and overflow car park, Cormac have been commissioned to develop concept design options for the seasonal overflow car park layout.

The work undertaken by Cormac will be performed with the aim of maximising the number of car park spaces, with the current capacity standing at approximately 320 spaces.

The new designs are to include disabled and electric charging spaces and achieving a minimising of the impact of habitat loss and a permeable surface.

The toilets at the two locations could be subjected to a relocation and replacement when the existing buildings reach the end of their economic life.

As part of the project up to 2027, the team say the intention is to provide costed options following a consultation with stakeholders and there will also be surveys undertaken to identify the locations of existing utilities and undersea design cables prior to a high-level project programme to include planning, design and delivery of the works.

The Summerleaze coastal footpath could be set for a re-alignment to move a portion of it which could be impacted by erosion further inland.

The plans can be viewed on the Cornwall Council planning portal using reference PA25/01170/PREAPP.