General Legal framework, laws and regulations
There is no overall national coastal zone legislation for Wales. A range of different statutory and non-statutory instruments cover either the terrestrial or the marine parts of the zone and there is a complex spatial overlap of these instruments. The statutory spatial planning system only covers terrestrial areas above the mean low water mark. The main instrument is the Town & Country Planning Act (1990), which covers much, but not all, of the inter-tidal zone. Some maritime legislation, for example, Sea Fisheries & Wildlife Conservation Act (1992) includes powers covering the inter-tidal as well as the sub-tidal zones. The Coastal Zone Law Web Site http://www.cf.ac.uk/uwc/claws/gibson/iczm contains legal materials and a commentary on coastal zone law in the United Kingdom, together with links to sources of national, European Union and international law on coastal management.
Policy development has generally used existing mechanisms set out in a series of guidance documents. In 1992 the House of Commons Environment Committee produced a report on "Coastal Zone Protection and Planning". A review of planning and management was undertaken for the UK under contract to the Department of the Environment by Rendel Geotechnics (Department of the Environment 1993). The Policy Guidelines for the Coast (Department of the Environment 1995) which followed, highlighted Government Policy in England and Wales on key issues affecting the coastal zone. A further note was issued on developing "best practice" (Department of the Environment 1996). [A marine and coastal zone policy statement was launched in December 1994 (Countryside Council for Wales 1994)]
The essentially voluntary approach to integration of planning and management of the coast is further developed through "Coastal Fora", one each for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which seek, through the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, the promotion of more sustainable approaches to coastal management. Each of these have a secretariat and they are all linked through the Countryside Division of the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions see http://www.wildlife-countryside.detr.gov.uk/ Division 4 which is responsible, amongst other things, for promoting effective co-ordination of policies for the coast. The Coastal Forum for Wales was launched in 1997 and has a membership of around 20 people. [There is also a Welsh Coastal Groups Forum set up in 1991 to co-ordinate the work of coastal engineering groups.]

Administrative responsibilities and planning mechanisms
There is devolved government in Wales and the Welsh Assembly has responsibility for a wide range of issues though the Westminster Parliament retains control over most major policy areas http://www.assembly.wales.gov.uk. Based in Whitehall, the Secretary of State for Wales is the key Government figure liasing with the devolved administration in Wales and represents Wales' interests in the Cabinet and in Parliament. http://www.ossw.wales.gov.uk/ Jurisdiction for coastal and marine issues is the responsibility of a wide range of organisations. The principal agencies and their main responsibilities are given in Figure 6 in relation to relevant activities in the 'coastal zone'. Note well these are not exhaustive but are provided to give an indication of the range of responsibilities.

Definition of Coastal Zone
There is no official national definition of the coastal zone for Wales. For planning purposes the seaward limit is generally the mean low water mark. There is no statutory planning offshore.

200 miles	12 miles	6 miles	3 miles	LWM	HWM
Local Authority (Planning control, coast protection, oil pollution to MLW, recreation, site management)
Environment Agency (Water quality, flood defence)
Department of Transport and the Regions (Coastal policy co-ordination, aggregate extraction)
Department of Trade and Industry (off shore oil and gas licensing )
English Nature (Nature conservation objectives including SAC's)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Grant aid for coast protection and flood defence)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Fisheries management)
European Commission (Common fisheries policy, water quality, habitats directive)

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Web Page http://www.detr.gov.uk is the main UK Government Department responsible for the environment. It is headed by a senior Cabinet Post, currently occupied by John Prescott who is also the Deputy Prime Minister. There are separate departments within the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales, a Wildlife Division http://www.wildlife-countryside.detr.gov.uk/issues/coastal/index.htm is responsible for co-ordinating coastal policy. It:

Environment Agency
The Environment Agency Web Page http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk is the key organisations with responsibility for environmental protection in England (and Wales http://www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk/). In discharging its function to "protect or enhance the environment" it also makes "a contribution towards attaining the objective of achieving sustainable development". A key document for the coast is the State of the Environment of England and Wales: Coasts, (Environment Agency 1999). The Agency maintains a total of about 1,400km of sea defences around the coast. This is about two-thirds of the total, with the remainder being either the responsibility of local authorities or privately owned Figure 5 above. The Agency maintains a further 3,300km of tidal defences within estuaries and tidal rivers. The Environment Agency for England and Wales maintains a major data base of information on water quality and pollution in accordance with its statutory responsibility. Details are contained in the state of the coast report (Environment Agency 1999).

Coastal & marine protected areas

The coastline of Wales is covered by a wide range and large number of designations and protected sites. A map showing the location of all of these for the whole of Wales can be found at http://www.ccw.gov.uk/ More detail on each of these, together with the main statutory agencies responsible for administering them given below:

Countryside Council for Wales

Countryside Council for Wales http://www.ccw.gov.uk/ is the Government funded body whose purpose is to promote the conservation of the wildlife, natural features and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment. This is achieved by undertaking conservation action, including managing nature reserves and by working with others to foster environmentally sustainable land use. The main duties and powers are given by the following Acts of Parliament:

Policy is set by a Council whose Chairman and Members are appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment. It is responsible for a number of statutory designations and managing habitats and sites in Wales, including coastal areas. CCW is also responsible for contributing to the identification of sites designated under international conventions and directives such as the EU Habitats and Species Directive.

The Countryside Council for Wales is responsible for identifying and advising on the management of a variety of areas both for their nature conservation interest as well as more general landscape and recreational use. In this respect they have taken on the work formerly undertaken by the Countryside Commission. (In England this became the responsibility of a new Countryside Agency http://www.countryside.gov.uk).

National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural beauty and Heritage Coasts

National Parks
There are three national parks in Wales Snowdonia, Pembs Coast and the Brecon Beacons . Unlike AONBs, National Parks are run by free-standing National Park Authorities (NPAs) set up by law as a single purpose local authority with twin purposes of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and to provide opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park by the public http://www.ccw.gov.uk/
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in the south west is predominantly coastal, and includes several offshore islands, the largest of which are Skomer, Skokholm, Ramsey, Grasholm and Caldey. These are internationally important for their seabird and seal populations http://www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk. The second area, the Snowdonia National Park centres around the Snowdonia mountain but includes considerable areas of coastland.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The countryside of Wales contains extensive areas that are outstandingly beautiful. The hills, valleys, woods and water combine to form a rich diversity of scenery that is of great value to the nation. Accordingly, the Government decided in 1949 to protect these areas as something precious - a beautiful countryside to be passed on to future generations. There are three on the Welsh coast, Gower, Lleyn and Anglesey. They are designated by the Countryside Council for Wales and managed by the relevant Local Authorities http://www.ccw.gov.uk/.

Heritage Coasts
These special coastlines are managed so that their natural beauty is conserved and, where appropriate, the accessibility for visitors is improved. This non-statutory protection is agreed between the Local Authority and the Countryside Council for Wales http://www.ccw.gov.uk/. 500km some one third of the Welsh coastline is designated as Heritage Coast. For a location map and more information see http://www.countryside.gov.uk/

National Nature Reserves (NNR), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Estuaries with Management Projects

Sites Designated by the Countryside Council for Wales
More details of the sites for which CCW has specific responsibility may be found in their Annual Report and links to designations such as SSSIs http://www.ccw.gov.uk.

NNRs and MNRs
These are sites declared by the Countryside Council for Wales or its predecessors under Section 19 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or Section 35 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. They are either owned or controlled by the Council or held by approved bodies such as the wildlife trusts. More detailed information on individual coastal sites is found at http://www.ccw.gov.uk/nnr/yrafordir/index.htm . There is one Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs) in Wales, declared by the Secretary of State for the Environment, http://www.ccw.gov.uk/designat/english/mnr.htm

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
Sites of Special Scientific Interest are notified by the Countryside Council for Wales because of their plants, animals, or geological or physiographical features. Most SSSIs are privately owned or managed. Some are owned or managed by public bodies such as the Forestry Commission, Ministry of Defence and The Crown Estate, or by the voluntary conservation movement http://www.ccw.gov.uk/designat/english/sssi.htm.
Please also note that there have been significant changes to the protection of the countryside with the enactment of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/cl/bill/factsheet/index.htm) it is hoped will bring vastly improved protection for our SSSIs. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) strengthens the powers of English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales to ensure the better protection and management of SSSIs. The CROW Act improves the legislation for protecting and managing SSSIs so that:
English Nature can vary existing SSSIs to take account of natural changes or new information; Public bodies have a duty to further the conservation and enhancement of SSSIs; neglected or mis-managed sites can be brought into favourable management. New offences and heavier penalties now apply to people who illegally damage SSSIs.

The Government's target is to bring 95% of England's SSSIs into 'favourable' condition by 2010.

International designations: Ramsar sites and Natura 2000
Information on these sites is co-ordinated by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee see http://www.jncc.gov.uk/idt/ramsar_spa/others.htm. In Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales is responsible for the identification of these sites, their notification as SSSIs and carrying out consultations on the proposed designations with owners, occupiers, local authorities and other interested parties.

Ramsar sites
The UK Government signed the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (the Ramsar convention) in 1973. The Countryside Council for Wales is responsible for identifying and designating these sites http://www.ccw.gov.uk/. [Under the Convention the Government is committed to designate 'Wetlands of International Importance' (Ramsar sites) and to use the wetlands within its territory wisely. (Ramsar Bureau) http://www.ramsar.org/index.html. The international Ramsar data base is held at Wetlands International http://www.wetlands.agro.nl/ramsar_database/ramsar_quick.html].

Special Protection Areas
The Government is bound by the European Communities Council Directive of April 1979 on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Under this directive the Government has to designate Special Protection Areas to conserve the habitat of certain rare or vulnerable birds (listed under the directive) and regularly occurring migratory birds. It has to avoid any significant pollution or disturbance to or deterioration of these designated sites. In Wales this is the responsibility of Countryside Council for Wales http://www.ccw.gov.uk/

Special Areas of Conservation
Together with SPAs these sites will ultimately form part of the EU Natura 2000 network. They are designated in Wales as SSSIs. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have submitted a list of candidate SAC's in Wales to the European Commission http://www.ccw.gov.uk/. A map showing their location can be found at http://www.ccw.gov.uk/. A UK perspective is given by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee which co-ordinates the listing of SPA, Ramsar and SAC's. See the Commission's web site for more information (http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm and look under Natura 2000) These include the Pembrokeshire Marine candidate SAC.

Local Authority areas
There are a large number of Local Nature Reserves, owned and/or managed by the local authorities. These include both County and District Councils. The main source of contact covering all the authorities in Wales is the Local Government Association (http://www.lga.gov.uk)

Local Nature Reserves
All LNRs are owned or controlled by local authorities and some, but not all, are SSSIs. Local authorities consult the Countryside Council for Wales on all new proposals for LNRs. http://www.ccw.gov.uk/

Other Sites of Nature Conservation Importance
Local Authorities also identify sites of more local interest variously described as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) or similar terminology. See the individual Local Authority web sites for more information.

National Trust properties
The National Trust is an independent private organisation concerned with the protection and preservation of a wide variety of land and buildings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/. It has, through its 'Enterprise Neptune' bought and now manages large sections of some of the best coastal landscapes in England and Wales. The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three Victorian philanthropists who were concerned about the impact of uncontrolled development and industrialisation of threatened coastline, countryside and buildings. The Trust now has almost 600 miles coastline in its care. Most of this together with over 248,000 hectares (612,000 acres) of countryside and more than 200 buildings and gardens are held in perpetuity, so their future protection is secure. The vast majority are open to visitors. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/regional.htm provides an introduction to the many sites and properties by region. In Wales there are over 80 sites ranging in size from 1 ha to over 400 ha at Worm's Head on Gower, totalling approximately 7,000 ha.

Local Wildlife Trust reserves
The County Trust movement is a wholly non-Governmental, privately funded group of organisations centred on Local Authority boundaries which own and/or manage a large number of nature reserves throughout Wales (and in the rest of the UK). Information can be obtained on their location from http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/. An umbrella organisation the Royal Society for Nature Conservation http://www.rsnc.org/main.htm provides a central co-ordinating body for the activities of the 46 independent Trusts across the UK.
Trust in Wales with web sites include:
Glamorgan Wildlife Trust http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/glamorgan/
Gwent Wildlife Trust http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/gwent/
Montgomery Wildlife Trust http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/montgomeryshire/
The Wildlife Trust for West Wales
see also Dyfed Wildlife Trust & the North Wales Wildlife Trust.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Reserves
In addition to general lobbying for improved conservation policy across the UK the RSPB owns and manages a large number of reserves. Nature reserves in Wales cover a wide range of the best wildlife habitats, including a number of islands and sea cliffs with their seabird colonies, totalling nearly 2,000 ha. For information on the organisation and is role and responsibility see http://www.rspb.org.uk/.

Spatial Planning

Planning System & Administrative Context for ICZM
Most of the planning legislation is administered by the County and District Planning Authorities according to a series of County, Local or Subject Plans. County Structure Plans are agreed by the Secretary of State. Many if not all Local Authorities have their own web sites, however, the Local Government Association provides a source of information both on the authorities themselves and a platform for discussion of important issues. In this context they have recently published a draft strategy on coastal issues (LGA 1999).
Local authorities prepare development plans known as Structure Plans at the county/regional level and Local Plans at the district/municipal level, certain Unitary Authorities prepare Unitary Development Plans, these must conform with national and regional guidance. Most development and land-use changes require planning permission issued by the local planning authority. It is generally accepted that development which does not require a coastal location should normally take place inland. Where it does require a coastal location, the developed coast should provide the best option. Planning should seek to protect and enhance the natural character and landscape of the undeveloped coast.

In general there is no national cross-sectoral legislation, local government is, however, encouraged to integrate across the sectors. To bring sectoral interests together, National Coastal Fora (separately for England, Wales & Scotland, see above) have been set up by national government. These are designed to encourage communication, collaboration and debate between the sectors to assist the ICZM process. The adoption of similar voluntary cross-sectoral approaches at local government scale is varied and patchy.

Set-back Line Policy
There is no official development set-back line policy or protected zone for the coast. Recently, however, there have been several instances where an informal 5 metre contour line has been recognised, specifically in relation to dealing with coastal erosion and flood defence.

Additional Information
The statutory planning system in Wales is similar to that of England and is predominantly top-down in character, with full public consultation but limited public participation. In addition to local government, there are a number of other organisations and agencies actively involved in the development and implementation of a more integrated and sustainable planning and management of the coastal zone; notably the Countryside Council for Wales , The Countryside Agency and the Environment Agency in the statutory sector, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Wildlife Trusts in the voluntary sector.

Legal framework, laws and regulations
Administrative responsibilities and planning mechanisms
There is no statutory national land-use plan. Rather, central government sets out its priorities in documents known as Planning Policy Guidance (PPGs). There is a specific PPG for the coast of England and Wales - PPG 20 Coastal Planning and Policy Guidelines for the Coast (1995), which sets the general context for policy and identifies policies which cover conservation, economic and social development, risks, environmental assessment and quality and improving the environment.

Integrated Coastal Management (ICM)

Whilst it is recognised by the Government and many organisations that ICM forms an important component in coastal protection and planning this is very much left to individual cases and a voluntary approach. Several policy reviews have taken place for England and Wales see reference list below. The Government has sponsored specific approaches notably through the development of Estuary Management Plans (administered through the Countryside Council for Wales ) and the combination of Shoreline Management Plans (funded by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food ), Local Environmental Action Plans (administered by the Environment Agency). In keeping with the informal approach to ICM in the UK the Government also encourages co-operation between sectors and the Coastal Forum for Wales specifically addresses this (see above).

Estuary Management Plans
Estuary Management Plans were produced as a result of an initiative funded by the DETR and implemented by the Countryside Council for Wales and in combination with English Nature where appropriate. The Dee Estuary Strategy http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/deestrat/ is part of the PISCES Group (The Partnership of Irish Sea Coast & Estuary Strategies). This aims to bring together partnerships in the North West and promote sustainable use and management of the North West coast.

Two documents provide information applicable to sites in Wales, both obtainable from English Nature via their web site, namely:
Estuary Management Plans - A co-ordinator's guide
Provides guidance on what an Estuary Management Plan should contain and how local communities might best be involved in preparing and implementing them. ISBN 1 85716 121 1, A4, mono, 88 pages, £2.00 post free 1993
Strategy for the sustainable use of England's estuaries
Encourages the preparation and implementation of Estuary Management Plans for individual estuaries by Estuary Management Groups, to sustain the natural and wildlife resource and the economic and social importance of the estuary. ISBN 1 85716 120 3, A4, mono, 44 pages, £1.50 post free 1993

Coastal defence (coastal protection and sea defence)
MAFF has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence in England and administers the legislation which enables such works to be carried out. (The National Assembly for Wales has similar responsibility in Wales.) The aim of MAFF's flood and coastal defence programme http://www.maff.gov.uk/environ/fcd/default.htm is to reduce risks to people and to the developed and natural environment from flooding and coastal erosion in England (and Wales). MAFF pursues this aim in three main ways:
Firstly by giving financial support to flood and coastal defence operating authorities in England and Wales (local authorities, the Environment Agency and Internal Drainage boards); secondly by providing published advice and guidance to the operating authorities and thirdly by funding a research programme.

The Environment Agency has recently published Indicative Flood Plain maps for England and Wales available at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

Shoreline management Plans
Coastal protection is a major issue in England and Wales. Shoreline Management Plan have been developed throughout England and Wales to help address the problems. They set out to define a strategy for coastal defence for a specified length of coast, taking account of natural coastal processes and human and other environmental influences and needs" (MAFF/WO, 1995). Although non-statutory, SMPs have direct inter-relationships with voluntary Coastal Zone Management Plans, Estuary Management Plans and Local Environment Agency Plans (formerly Catchment Management Plans), and are intended to be used to provide information to support the preparation of Development Plan policies and assist Local Planning Authorities in determining planning applications in the coastal zone. This approach has been reviewed recently under contract to MAFF and the report is available in pdf format at http://www.maff.gov.uk/corps/consexer/shore/shore2.pdf.

Recreation and tourism
The Wales Tourist Board promotes tourism and takes account of its potential impact on local communities and the environment. The British Resorts Association http://www.britishresorts.co.uk provides a useful point of access to many of the tourism organisations in Great Britain, including Wales see the index at http://www.britishresorts.co.uk/general-pages/links_searches.html

Transport, harbours & shipping
Throughout the last decade considerable improvements have been made to discharges of sewage, colliery spoil, industrial affluent as new more stringent legislation has been enacted and enforced. Associated British Ports http://www.abports.co.uk/ is responsible for most of the ports in Wales including Port Talbot, Swansea and Cardiff, details of each are accessible through the web site.

ICM Projects policy development, priorities and major achievements
There is a plethora of non-statutory plans and initiatives ongoing in coastal areas with very variable levels of success in relation to implementation, cross-sectoral integration and public participation. There are no projects in Wales funded through EU Demonstration Programme on ICZM (EUICZM). A selection of those sites with plans or strategies with Web Sites is given below:

PISCES (Partnership of Irish Sea Coast and Estuary Strategies) is a grouping of ten coastal initiatives located on the coast of the North West Region. It includes:
Dee Estuary Strategy http://www.deeestuary.org.uk

Other groups include:

In Wales the Welsh Coastal Forum provides the umbrella for stakeholders but other contacts, such as those between individual projects are less formalised. CoastNet http://www.coastnet.org.uk, the Coastal Network in the UK, links individuals and organisations working for the sustainable management of the coastal and marine environment.

The UK marine SACs Project is designed to establish management schemes on selected UK marine Special Areas of Conservation. It is run in partnership between English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales, Environment and Heritage Service DoE Northern Ireland, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Scottish Association for Marine Science see http://www.english-nature.org.uk/uk-marine.

Coastal Research & Monitoring, Training and Consultancy
There are a number of research institutes, universities and colleges with departments specialising in coastal and marine management which offer consultancy services.

The European Union for Coastal Conservation (UK) has a principle aim of helping to secure greater relevance of coastal and marine research to meet the needs of planners, management and those formulating policy in the coastal zone. It does this by acting as an expert network bringing together biological and physical knowledge about the coastal zone and making this available to all those living and working on the coast. The contact point for this organisation is National Coastal Consultants (http://www.coastalplaza.org/uk/ncc).

This page is part of the Coastal Guide Country File - Wales which includes chapters on General Features, State of the Coast, Coastal Management & Planning, and References

Acknowledgements:
The Coastal Guide Country File - Wales has been prepared by:
Dr Pat Doody, EUCC UK
c/o National Coastal Consultants,
5 Green Lane,
BRAMPTON, Huntingdon, Cambs.,
PE28 4RE, UK
Tel.: 00 44 (0) 1480 392706
E-mail: pat.doody@ntlworld.com