Environmental analysis news: Councils awarded funds to tackle coastal erosion

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has allocated £11 million to help English councils deal with coastal erosion.

Scarborough Borough Council, Dorset County Council and North Norfolk District Council are among those to benefit from a slice of the money on offer.

Environment secretary Hilary Benn commented that the funds had been made available to help businesses and residents adapt to changes in their area that will be exacerbated by global warming.

He said: "Our coastline has always been shaped by the sea and as climate change takes hold the risk of coastal change will only increase. That is why we need to help our coastal communities adapt to this change."

The 15 local councils to receive financial aid under the coastal change pathfinder scheme will use the money to investigate new ways of dealing with changes caused by the sea.

North Norfolk District Council has been awarded the greatest amount - £3 million - to fund a varied programme of activities to support its communities at risk from alterations to the coastline.

Posted by Lauren Steadman