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Shortlisting The Alde and Ore Options
Alde and Ore Options Shortlisting Consultation (see Project News):
To use the online questionnaire to comment on the Alde and Ore Estuary Options Shortlisting Consultation Document, click here.
To download the "Alde and Ore Estuary Options Shortlisting Consultation Document", click here.

Two Public Exhibitions on the Shortlisting of the Options will be held on Tuesday 11th January, Aldeburgh Church Hall between 2pm and 7pm and on Thursday 13th January, The New Room at Orford Town Hall between 2pm and 7pm.

INTRODUCTION
The selection of a preferred strategy for the Estuary is made up of a series of stages as shown on the Approach to Option Selection page. We are currently in Stage 2 of this process, where we have developed a long list of options for the estuary and then tested these options against the model we have developed for the estuary to help us identify a short list of options.

LONG LIST OF OPTIONS
List of Options

SHORTLISTING THE OPTIONS
Shortlisting The Alde and Ore Estuary Options

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
During the next stages of the Strategy study the shortlisted options, and any combinations of these options, will be subject to detailed technical, economic and environmental assessment to identify a preferred overall strategy for the Estuary.
The assessment will be undertaken in line with Government guidelines for flood management strategies.
To find out further about the different technical, environmental and socio-economic and economic aspects considered click on the links below.

Technical Considerations Environmental and Socio-economic considerations Economic Considerations

Technical Considerations
Technical Appraisal
Assessment of whether the options will be effective will be carried out by considering their effect on the existing estuary using a computer model that has been developed specifically for the Alde and Ore.

There are technical issues to consider when reviewing options. These are, generally:
  • How the option will be built. This relates to both the construction of the option, and what is there at the moment.
  • How the option will affect river and tidal flow, both in normal conditions and in times of flooding.
  • How river and tidal flow will affect the option, both in normal conditions and in times of flooding
  • How the option will affect other parts of the estuary including the river mouth and the coast.
  • How effective the option will be in the short, medium and long term.
  • The sustainability of the option – whether the materials required to construct and maintain it will always be readily available at an acceptable economic and environmental cost, and how much maintenance it will need.
  • How easy it would be to alter the structure in future, if necessary.

Environmental and Socio-economic considerations
There are a wide range of environmental issues that must be considered when reviewing options. A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be carried to find out how each option will affect:
  • existing and future commercial, residential and leisure uses,
  • areas designated for nature conservation and how the management of these areas will impact on the option
  • existing flora and fauna,
  • river and tidal flow and flooding and how this will affect present land uses,
  • water quality in the study area,
  • navigable water courses and infrastructure,
  • the existing landscape and visual amenity of the area,
  • existing archaeological and heritage features.

The SEA will assess the options against strategy objectives. These strategy objectives will be developed through consideration of key environmental and socio-economic issues identified through consultation. Statutory organisations will provide objectives related to UK law and policy, whilst local community and interest groups and members of the general public have been asked to put forward their own objectives on how they would like to see the estuary flood defences managed.

Economic Considerations
The Environment Agency is funded by national and local government. The development of flood defence works must be carried out and justified using the rules set by the Treasury and the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra):

  • The cost of damage caused by flooding if nothing is done must be defined.
  • The most cost-effective option in relation to the benefit it provides must be chosen, as long as it meets technical and environmental criteria.
  • Partnerships must be sought with others to make sure any potential for joint development is identified as well as any other opportunities.

The study area is a very important part of the whole coastal region as an important conservation area and thriving tourist location. It is important to understand the effect that future changes in the study area will have on the Strategy. Therefore, the study of the assets to be protected in the Alde and Ore estuary area includes current land use and plans for the future development identified in Suffolk Coastal District Council’s Local Plan.