Why justice principles matter in long-term coastal adaptation planning for at risk communities

Flood and coastal risk management policy in England increasingly promotes coastal adaptation plans that are co-developed by local communities. Using the village of Happisburgh as a case study, this paper adopts an environmental justice lens to explore local resident and policymaker perspectives of managed realignment that may have a bearing on the implementation of community adaptation plans. Perspectives are elicited through a household survey and semi-structured interviews with Happisburgh residents, alongside neighbouring Bacton and Walcott residents. Presented alongside maps of recent geomorphological change, thematic analysis of survey and interview data reveals managed realignment is disputed by local residents where it threatens the integrity and identity of Happisburgh, and if unaccompanied with sufficient practical and financial support. Impacts on community wellbeing, differences of opinion on the practicalities of rollback, and distrust in past community consultations present significant obstacles to community engagement in adaptation at Happisburgh. The insights on financial, practical and wellbeing dimensions to coastal change provide learning on how at-risk coastal communities can be supported in adapting to erosion, but also in a manner that is perceived as just by the communities themselves. Overall, this paper demonstrates that incorporating justice principles into coastal adaptation planning is fundamental for successful community engagement, both to overcome historic environmental justice issues and to facilitate community willingness to adapt to future coastal and climate change.