Heritage Coast

A coastline waiting to be explored.....

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The partnership

The partnership

The management structure of the Heritage Coast Partnership is a modification of the successful Turning the Tide on the Durham Coast Partnership with recommendations resulting from a formal governance review in 2003. The successful multi-agency partnership of Turning the Tide continued with the further addition of two new partners, Sunderland City Council and Hartlepool Borough Council, the partnership is strengthened to sixteen members. The Heritage Coast is tasked with retaining and strengthening this focus and building on the level of involvement of local communities in future decision-making.

The Partnership comprises representatives of:

  • Local community interests (Blackhall Regeneration Partnership, Horden Regeneration Partnership, Easington Regeneration Partnership, Ryhope Community Association, Seaham Town Council) (5 in total).
  • The three local authorities (Durham County Council, Hartlepool Borough Council and Sunderland City Council) (3 elected members).
  • Key statutory agencies (Environment Agency and Natural England).
  • The National Trust, Durham Wildlife Trust, Groundwork and Northumbrian Water as key land owners/managers on the coast (4 in total).

In addition, to support community involvement:

  • A forum/conference is held annually to provide an opportunity for a wider range of local and community interests to input into the management of the area.
  • Time-limited, small, specialist working groups may be formed as and when necessary to assist with or provide guidance upon specific projects and initiatives. These would provide the opportunity for a wide range of individuals and interest groups to become actively involved in the management of the coast.
  • The individual members of the Partnership will be encouraged to take on a wider role which will go beyond the interests of the organisation that they represent.

Our partners

The role of a partnership member is to:

  • Work for the conservation, protection and enhancement of the whole of the Heritage Coast.
  • Champion the Partnership’s vision for the Heritage Coast and its communities, as set out in the Heritage Coast Management Plan.
  • Contribute knowledge, expertise and experience to the work of the Partnership.
  • Assist the Partnership in achieving the independent and apolitical profile in the performance of its functions.

Listed below are all the Durham Heritage Coast Partners:

The Vision

The Vision of the Heritage Coast Partnership is to guide the long term management of the coastal zone.

Integrated management of Durham Heritage Coast by and for local communities, which protects the natural and cultural integrity of the area whilst developing and meeting the area’s social and economic needs.

A Heritage Coast Management Plan 2018-2025 (PDF) has been developed to guide the work of the Partnership.

To achieve this vision the Partnership have adopted the following key objectives to guide management of the Heritage Coast:

  1. To conserve, protect and enhance the natural beauty of the coast, including the terrestrial, littoral and marine flora and fauna, geological interest, and its heritage features of architectural, historical and archaeological interest.
  2. To facilitate and enhance the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of the public by improving and extending opportunities for recreational, educational and tourist activities, including sport and art, that draw on, and are consistent with the conservation of its natural beauty and the protection of its heritage features.
  3. To maintain, and improve the environmental health of inshore waters affecting the Heritage Coast and its beaches through appropriate works and management.
  4. To take account of the needs of agriculture, forestry and fishing, and the economic and social needs of the small communities on the coast, by promoting sustainable forms of social and economic development, which in themselves conserve and enhance natural beauty and heritage features.
  5. To promote community participation in the stewardship of the coast, optimising the potential of social and economic regeneration initiatives that are consistent with the conservation of the natural beauty and the protection of the heritage features of the Heritage Coast.
  6. To integrate fully with adjoining areas and within the region to actively promote Integrated Coastal Zone Management.