Guidance on adding ecological features to coastal structures

If you are planning, building, upgrading, or maintaining coastal infrastructure to improve biodiversity, our coastal ecological enhancement features on coastal defence structures and assets guidance can help.

This guidance is meant for organisations that own, manage, design, or deliver coastal and estuarine infrastructure, including:

• flood and coastal erosion risk management authorities
• ports and harbours
• local authorities
• developers
• consultants

It covers both new and existing coastal assets.

The guidance will help you:

• identify opportunities to improve biodiversity on coastal assets
• choose suitable enhancement features for different types of coastal infrastructure
• assess site conditions and set project objectives
• understand consent, licensing, and regulatory requirements
• monitor outcomes and evaluate success 
• learn from examples in Wales and elsewhere in the UK

The guidance supports decision-making by helping you consider biodiversity benefits alongside engineering requirements and long-term asset management costs.