Plymouth to 'lead' as UK coastal areas are set for huge change

Plymouth is set to 'lead the way' with plans to implement huge changes to coastal areas. A major study aimed at revitalising Britain's coastal communities was launched at Parliament this week, with representatives from Plymouth playing a pivotal role in its development.

On the Waterfront is groundbreaking research and was unveiled at an All-Party Parliamentary Group meeting by Key Cities. The report underscores the immense potential of coastal communities to drive national growth and calls for urgent investment and strategic focus.

Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council and the portfolio lead for Coastal Communities and Ports for Key Cities, opened the launch event, he said: "This report is a game-changer and Plymouth, with its rich maritime heritage, is ready to lead the charge. Our coastal communities can be engines of creativity and growth, and it's time we harness that potential.

"The strategies outlined in this report—focused on empowerment, protection, connection, and investment—are foundational to our success. I hope this serves as a clarion call for our new Government to act swiftly and decisively.

“As Britain's Ocean City, Plymouth is at the forefront of this movement, ready to create a vibrant and sustainable future for all coastal communities.” The report, was produced by the Key Cities Innovation Network, in collaboration with the Centre for Coastal Communities at the University of Plymouth and other universities across the country. It reveals the stark socioeconomic disparities faced by traditional coastal communities across the country.

However, despite half a century of decline, these areas hold the key to economic resilience, social equity, and environmental stewardship. The message is in the report is clear; those living in coastal communities may have a different type of identity to that of the big-city dwellers, yet their livelihood remains just as important.

The event was attended by City Leaders, Parliamentarians, university leaders and stakeholders from across the Key Cities network, highlighting the growing ambition for the UK's coastal communities. This includes a host of Plymouth representatives, including Councillor Evans, along with Professor Sheena Asthana and Professor Sheela Agarwal from the University of Plymouth, along with Councillor Jemima Laing, Councillor Rebecca Smith MP and Richard Allan, Harbour Master.

The report sets out 28 exciting recommendations to empower, protect, connect, and invest in coastal communities. These include engaging with coastal communities to innovate hyperlocal public services, coordinating policy through a Cross-Departmental Task Force, and establishing long-term funding streams for strategic development

Other recommendations focus on adopting inclusive definitions of coastal communities in official statistics, and reviewing funding allocation criteria to better reflect deprivation and opportunity.

Cllr John Merry, Chair of Key Cities and Deputy City Mayor of Salford, added: “The nature of many of our member cities is that while they have urban centres, they are inextricably connected with their surrounding area – the peri-urban, the rural, the coastal. Around half of our members have significant coastal areas and ports.

“At Key Cities we learn from each other, and there are insights in this report that are valuable to all places that seek to create successful and sustainable futures in the face of deep-rooted barriers and challenges. The reality for many of our traditional communities on the coast is that older people are less well-served in health and care, younger people lack opportunities, and investment in their future is impeded by climate threats and outdated funding rules.

“The coast can be a source of strength and inspiration underpinning our national renewal, but only if we confront its decline head on with a strategic approach to regeneration. This report offers a framework for doing so.”

Key Cities is a dynamic network of 27 urban centres across England and Wales, including Plymouth. The Key Cities Innovation Network brings together universities to develop innovative solutions for urban and coastal challenges. This collaboration aims to promote economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability by advocating for policies tailored to the unique needs of these communities.