The Championing Coastal Coordination (3Cs) initiative is a programme of work that is being led by the Environment Agency with support from Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs).

It is a collaboration seeking to enhance and progress coordination for coastal sustainability and resilience in England. This is in recognition of the major challenges that we face in our coastal and estuarine environments.

The coast consists of many highly interconnected landscapes and seascapes, with a diverse mix of ownership and governance arrangements. The management of coastal issues poses a set of complex challenges unlike those inland.

The number and diversity of public and private sector interests is often highest at the coast, with a proportionate increase in the complexity of planning and management in this highly contested space.

Expression of Interest

The 3Cs initiative ran a successful pilot in 2021 and has secured funding for an additional 3-year period. They are running a competitive selection process again this year and invite submissions via expressions of interest.

Applicants are encouraged to work in collaboration and work across sectors and administrative boundaries to test and trial the following themes and further develop the existing pilot projects:

• Coordinating planning and delivery of locally owned plans and place-based initiatives through governance frameworks to better connect decision-makers in places; facilitate collaborative restoration planning and delivery; incorporate data from all different sectors of the community; strengthen policies and provide a direct link from national governance to local communities.
• Coastal champions to strengthen capacity and capability in local stewardship: incorporating environmental, social and economic processes that span land and sea; including all willing to be involved in goal setting, planning and delivery; creating a network of action with regular feedback on impact; engaging at a range of levels to exchange knowledge, share and acknowledge what is valuable, understand multiple perspectives and gain a high degree of support for delivery; strengthening engagement, facilitation and outreach incorporating environmental data into decisions at a local business level.
• Restoration and recovery of natural habitats: increase coastal natural capital by providing more space at the coast for coastal processes, allowing coastal habitats to respond to sea level rise and climate related storms, reducing the conflict between human land use and coastal change, reducing impacts of biodiversity loss, encourage nature recovery, improve water quality and provide opportunities for recreational access. Explore innovative ways to restore degraded coastal habitats.

For more information and how to apply see the web platform here. The call closes on 30 November 2022.