After section 55 of the 1949 Act insert—

“55AProposals relating to the English coastal route

(1)

Pursuant to the coastal access duty, Natural England may prepare and submit a report under section 51 containing proposals for a route (whether or not the requirements of section 51(1) are satisfied).

(2)

For the purposes of subsection (1) it is immaterial whether the route or any part of it is already a route in approved proposals relating to a long-distance route.

(3)

In subsections (4) and (5) “preliminary activity” means activity which Natural England considers would facilitate the preparation by it of a report under section 51 pursuant to the coastal access duty.

(4)

Where Natural England considers it necessary or expedient for preliminary activity to be carried out as respects any land, it must—

(a)

consider whether it would be appropriate for the access authority in relation to that land to carry out any of the preliminary activity, and

(b)

if it concludes that it would be so appropriate, take all reasonable steps to enter into an agreement with the access authority for that purpose.

(5)

An access authority may, as respects any land in its area, enter into an agreement with Natural England under which the access authority undertakes to carry out preliminary activity.

(6)

In this section “the coastal access duty” means the duty imposed on Natural England and the Secretary of State by section 296(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

55BRoute subject to erosion etc

(1)

This section applies in relation to a report under section 51 prepared pursuant to the coastal access duty.

(2)

Where Natural England considers that the area through which the route passes is an area to which subsection (3) applies, the report may set out proposals for the route, or any part of it, to be determined at any time in accordance with provision made in the proposals (rather than as shown on a map).

(3)

This subsection applies to an area if it is or may be—

(a)

subject to significant coastal erosion or encroachment by the sea, or

(b)

subject to significant physical change due to other geomorphological processes.

(4)

The provision made by virtue of subsection (2) may, in particular, provide for the route to be determined by reference to the edge of a cliff or boundary of a field (as it exists from time to time).

(5)

Where the report contains proposals under subsection (2), the map included in the report in accordance with section 51(2) must show the route as determined, at the time the report is prepared, in accordance with those proposals.

(6)

Natural England must consult the Environment Agency before exercising its powers under subsection (2) in respect of an area which is or may be—

(a)

subject to significant coastal erosion or encroachment by the sea, or

(b)

subject to significant physical change due to other geomorphological processes in relation to which the Agency has functions.

55CAlternative routes

(1)

This section applies in relation to a report under section 51 prepared pursuant to the coastal access duty.

(2)

The report may include, in relation to the route (“the ordinary route”) or any part of it, a proposal under subsection (3) or (4).

(3)

A proposal under this subsection is a proposal for an alternative route which is to operate as a diversion from the ordinary route, or part, during one or both of the following—

(a)

any specified period (or periods), and

(b)

any period during which access to the ordinary route or part is excluded by reason of a direction under Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the CROW Act (exclusion or restriction of access).

(4)

A proposal under this subsection is a proposal for an alternative route which is to operate as an optional alternative to the ordinary route, or part, during any period for which the ordinary route, or part, might reasonably be regarded as unsuitable for use by reason of—

(a)

flooding,

(b)

the action of the tide,

(c)

coastal erosion or encroachment by the sea, or

(d)

the effect of any other geomorphological process.

(5)

In subsection (3)(a) “specified” means—

(a)

specified in, or determined in accordance with, the proposal, or

(b)

determined in accordance with the proposal by—

(i)

a person specified in the proposal, or

(ii)

a person determined in accordance with the proposal, details of whom are notified to Natural England in accordance with the proposal.

(6)

Sections 51(2) and 55B apply in relation to an alternative route as they apply in relation to the ordinary route.

55DCoastal margin

(1)

This section applies in relation to a report prepared under section 51 pursuant to the coastal access duty.

(2)

The proposals set out in the report may include—

(a)

a proposal for any part of the landward boundary of the relevant coastal margin to coincide with a physical feature identified in the proposal,

(b)

where those proposals include an alternative route, a proposal for any part of the landward or seaward boundary of the alternative route strip to coincide with a physical feature so identified, or

(c)

a proposal for the landward or seaward boundary of any area excluded from any description of excepted land to coincide with a physical feature so identified.

(3)

The report must contain—

(a)

a map showing the landward boundary of the relevant coastal margin, or

(b)

a description of that boundary which is sufficient to identify the relevant coastal margin.

(4)

Where a map is contained in a report pursuant to subsection (3)(a), Natural England must provide a person with a relevant interest in affected land, on request, with a copy of that map.

(5)

The report must set out such proposals (if any) as Natural England considers appropriate as to the directions to be made by it under Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the CROW Act for the exclusion or restriction of the right of access that would arise under section 2(1) of that Act in relation to any land if the proposals in the report were to be approved.

(6)

Before preparing the report, Natural England must (in addition to complying with section 51(4))—

(a)

take reasonable steps to consult persons with a relevant interest in affected land,

(b)

consult any body of a kind mentioned in section 51(4) in whose Park or area affected land is situated (but which is not required to be consulted under section 51(4)),

(c)

consult each London borough council for an area in which affected land is situated,

(d)

consult each local access forum for an area in which affected land is situated,

(e)

consult the Secretary of State in relation to any interests of defence or national security which may be affected by the proposals which Natural England is minded to include in the report,

(f)

consult the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England in relation to any interests in the preservation of any monument, structure or other thing, mentioned in section 26(3)(b) of the CROW Act which may be affected by those proposals, and

(g)

consult the Environment Agency in relation to any interests in flood defence, or in the management of the effects of coastal erosion or encroachment by the sea, which may be affected by those proposals.

(7)

A body within subsection (6)(b), (c) or (d) must provide Natural England with such information as it may reasonably require for the purposes of the report.

(8)

Where the Secretary of State is consulted under subsection (6)(e), the Secretary of State must—

(a)

provide Natural England with such information as it may reasonably require as to any exclusion or restriction of the right of access to affected land under section 2(1) of the CROW Act which the Secretary of State proposes to make provision for under section 28 of that Act (defence and national security), and

(b)

notify Natural England if the Secretary of State is of the opinion that this information, or any part of it, ought not to be disclosed by it on the grounds of the public interest in defence and national security.

(9)

Subject to subsection (10), the report must contain such of the information provided under subsection (8)(a) as Natural England considers relevant for the purposes of the report.

(10)

The report may not contain information which Natural England has been notified under subsection (8)(b) ought not to be disclosed by it.

55EConsideration of reports made pursuant to the coastal access duty

Schedule 1A contains—

(a)

provision about the procedure to be followed when a report is submitted under section 51 pursuant to the coastal access duty;

(b)

provision which, in relation to such reports, supplements the provision made by section 52.

55FDirections under Part 1 of the CROW Act

(1)

This section applies where approved proposals relating to a long-distance route contain proposals as regards a direction to be made by Natural England under Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the CROW Act for the exclusion or restriction of the right of access that would otherwise arise under section 2(1) of that Act.

(2)

Natural England must make the direction in accordance with those proposals.

(3)

Subsection (2) is without prejudice to any power Natural England may have to revoke or vary the direction after it is made.

55GFerries for the purposes of the English coastal route

(1)

This section applies where—

(a)

pursuant to the coastal access duty, approved proposals relating to a long-distance route include proposals for the provision and operation of a ferry, and

(b)

an approach route to the ferry is not a highway.

(2)

The reference in section 53(1) to the highway authority for either or both of the highways to be connected by the ferry is to be read as including the highway authority in whose area the approach route is situated.

(3)

In this section “approach route”, in relation to a ferry, means a part of the English coastal route to be connected to another part of that route by the ferry.

55HVariation pursuant to the coastal access duty

(1)

In the case of a report made by Natural England under section 55(1) pursuant to the coastal access duty—

(a)

the procedural requirements apply with the necessary modifications, and

(b)

section 55(3) does not apply.

(2)

The Secretary of State may by regulations provide—

(a)

that, in relation to a direction under section 55(2) pursuant to the coastal access duty, the procedural requirements apply with the modifications specified in the regulations, and

(b)

that section 55(3) does not apply in relation to such a direction.

(3)

The Secretary of State may not make a direction under section 55(2) pursuant to the coastal access duty at a time when there are no regulations under subsection (2) in force.

(4)

For the purposes of this section—

“modify” includes amend, add to or repeal, and “modification” is to be construed accordingly;

“the procedural requirements” means sections 51(4) and (5), 52(1) and (2), 55D(6) to (10) and 55E, Schedule 1A and regulations under that Schedule.

55ITemporary diversions

(1)

This section applies where Natural England or the Secretary of State gives a direction by virtue of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the CROW Act which excludes the right of access under section 2(1) of that Act, for any period (“the exclusion period”), in relation to any land over which (or any part of which) the English coastal route or any official alternative route passes.

(2)

This section does not apply if the direction by virtue of that Chapter is expressed to have effect indefinitely.

(3)

Natural England may give a direction under this section specifying a route (“the temporary route”) which is to apply for the duration of the exclusion period or such part of it as is specified in the direction.

(4)

The temporary route specified by Natural England may pass only—

(a)

over land which is access land for the purposes of Part 1 of the CROW Act,

(b)

over land which, for the purposes of section 1(1) of that Act, is treated by section 15(1) of that Act as being accessible to the public apart from that Act,

(c)

along a highway, or

(d)

over any other land the owner of which has agreed to the temporary route (so far as it passes over that land).

(5)

Natural England must consult the Environment Agency before giving a direction where the temporary route specified passes over land of a type described in subsection (4)(d).

(6)

A direction under this section—

(a)

must be in writing, and

(b)

may be revoked or varied by a subsequent direction under this section.

55JInterpretation of sections 55A to 55J

(1)

In sections 55A to 55I, Schedule 1A and this section—

“access authority” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the CROW Act;

“affected land” means—

(a)

land over which the route, or any alternative route, to which the proposals relate passes, and

(b)

any other land which—

1. (i)

   is relevant coastal margin, or an alternative route strip in relation to such an alternative route, and

2. (ii)

   is not excepted land;

“alternative route” is to be construed in accordance with section 55C;

“alternative route strip”, in relation to an alternative route, means—

(a)

in a case where the proposal for the alternative route has not yet been approved under section 52, the land which would become coastal margin during the operation of that route if the proposals in the report were to be so approved (without modifications), and

(b)

in the case of an official alternative route, the land which would become coastal margin during the operation of that route;

“the coastal access duty” has the meaning given by section 55A;

“coastal margin” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the CROW Act;

“the CROW Act” means the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (c. 37);

“the English coastal route” means the route secured pursuant to the coastal access duty;

“excepted land” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the CROW Act;

“local access forum” means a local access forum established under section 94 of the CROW Act;

“official alternative route” means an alternative route which is contained in approved proposals relating to a long-distance route;

“owner”, in relation to land, means the person who holds an estate in fee simple absolute in possession in the land;

“relevant coastal margin”, in relation to proposals, means—

(a)

in a case where the proposals have not yet been approved under section 52, land which would become coastal margin if the proposals were to be approved (without modifications) under that section (disregarding the alternative route strip in relation to any alternative route), and

(b)

in a case where the proposals have been so approved (with or without modifications), land which becomes coastal margin as a result of the proposals having been so approved (disregarding the alternative route strip in relation to any official alternative route).

(2)

For the purposes of sections 55A to 55I and Schedule 1A, a person has a relevant interest in land if the person—

(a)

is the owner of the land,

(b)

holds a term of years absolute in the land, or

(c)

is in lawful occupation of the land.

(3)

Any power conferred by sections 55A to 55I or Schedule 1A to make regulations includes—

(a)

power to make different provision for different cases, and

(b)

power to make incidental, consequential, supplemental or transitional provision or savings.”