Editing Norfolk (section)

===Management of the shoreline===
Norfolk's low-lying land and easily eroded cliffs, many of which are composed of chalk and clay, make it vulnerable to weathering by the sea. The most recent major erosion event occurred during the [[North Sea flood of 1953]].

The low-lying section of coast between [[Kelling]] and [[Lowestoft Ness]] in Suffolk is currently managed by the British [[Environment Agency]] to protect the Broads from sea flooding. Management policy for the North Norfolk coastline is described in the "North Norfolk Shoreline Management Plan" published in 2006, but has yet{{when|date=May 2024}} to be accepted by local authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/coastal/default_5265.asp |title=Shoreline Management Plan |publisher=north-norfolk.org |date=22 February 2008 |access-date=15 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608020113/http://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/coastal/default_5265.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=8 June 2008}}</ref> The Shoreline Management Plan states that the stretch of coast will be protected for at least another 50 years, but that in the event of [[sea level rise]] and [[post-glacial rebound|post-glacial lowering]] of land levels in the South East, there may a need for further research to inform future management decisions, including the possibility that the [[Coastal management|sea defences]] may have to be [[managed retreat|realigned]] to a more sustainable position. [[Natural England]] have contributed some research into the impacts on the environment of various realignment options. The draft report of their research was leaked to the press, who created great anxiety by reporting that Natural England plan to abandon a large section of the Norfolk Broads, villages and farmland to the sea to save the rest of the Norfolk coastline from the impact of any adverse [[climate change]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3642929.ece |work=The Times |location=London |title=Climate change: surrender a slab of Norfolk, say conservationists |first=Valerie |last=Elliott |date=29 March 2008 |access-date=14 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601124846/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3642929.ece |archive-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>