The first estuary plan was published by the DEP in April 2015. With the issue of flood risk management as its point of departure, this plan widened its remit to provide an integrated approach to the management of the broader estuary, valley and immediate coastal zone. The 2015 Estuary Plan was approved by the Environment Agency and accepted as Planning Guidance by the planning department of Suffolk Coastal District Council (now East Suffolk Council).
We are now in the process of developing a revised and updated Deben Estuary Plan, which will build on the previous work but with a specific focus on ‘Change – climate, community and culture’.