However, for a brief history read on:>BR. It is generally recognised that the first round SMPs, despite guidance, lacked uniformity and consistency (not least in scope and depth); output quality and format also varied. Defra issued revised guidance in 2001, in order that SMPs could be used as a universal coastal planning tool.

The 2nd generation SMPs will need to have the following attributes:

• Policy needs to be sustainable in the longer term. Therefore, coastal processes and their influence upon decision-making will need to play a much greater part in the development of the SMP. Due consideration also needs to be given to the environment amd the Town & Country Planning process

• Policy today (i.e. present defences) is unlikely to be altered in the short-term (0-20 years) - maybe due to local politics. Consequently, the focus of the SMP should be on the longer-term, i.e. 50-100 years (derived from the objectives) and what will be technically acceptable/sustainable (derived from the process model), with a plan of how to get there from the present day management situation.

• The decision process behind the policies and implementation presented in the SMP need to be transparent and auditable. Within this there needs to be more emphasis on the environment and on Planning

"Core" and "linked" study components were defined to develop the procedural guidance (PG), testing various approaches and tools assisted this process.

The three SMPs used to test the approaches developed are listed below. These three SMP reviews are now being carried out using the new Interim Procedural Guide:

• Selsey Bill to Beachy Head (i.e.the SDCG Area);
• Beachy Head to South Foreland; and
• Sheringham to Lowestoft.