Case studies for the WJEC B GCSE Geography Paper 1. Thanks to Mr Newman.

1. Geography Revision 2016
Paper 1 Case Studies for Revision

2. Paper one case studies
Theme 1
Case Study 1 – Housing in
urban areas – Favelas in Rio.
Case Study 2 - Retail Services –
Change in Brighton and Hove
Case Study 3 - Leisure and
recreation services in Brighton
Case Study 4 - Rural to urban
migration: from the semi-arid
region Caatinga in
Northeast Brazil to Rio de
Janeiro
Case Study 5 – Planning issue
– Housing in Rural areas –
Mayfield Market Town
Case Study 6 - Dawlish
Warren: conflict in a rural
area due to leisure use:
Theme 2
Case Study 7 - Typhoon Haiyan: Case
Study of an extreme low pressure
weather event.
or
Case study 7: Hurricane Katrina New
Orleans, USA Case Study of an
extreme low pressure weather event.
Case study 8 - An ecosystem:
management -Amazon Rainforest - NW
Brazil
Case study 9 - Desertification: Sahel,
south of the Sahara Desert, Africa
CASE STUDY 10 - Regional scale River
Flood:- Bangladesh - The causes and
impacts of the September 1998 Flood
Case study 11 – Local scale River Flood
Management - River Adur
Case Study 12 – Coastal Management –
Start Bay

3. Case Study 1 -Housing in an urban area: tenure, access, opportunities,
constraints, patterns: Rochina, Favela in Rio de Jaineiro, Brazil
Problems with living in favelas.
Quality of life is low . High infant mortality, low life expectancy, low adult literacy rate, high crime rate, lots of poverty etc.
No security - squatter settlements are illegal, so no security (homes could be demolished/dwellers evicted at any time). Huge, overcrowded with
a high population density due to lack of space. Homes are poorly built out of scrap material, not weather-proof. As housing is dense so fire and
disease spreads quickly. Unhygienic (lack of clean water, poor sanitation due to shared pit latrines which overflow in rainy season - so diseases eg
cholera spread). No garbage collection - smelly, and attracts vermin which spread disease. Have to queue to collect clean water. Lacking
electricity, so at night the area is dark, unsafe, so crime is high and shops etc close early. Miles from CBD and jobs. High infant mortality rate.
Frequent landslides.
Schemes to improve squatter settlement
Self Help Scheme - the government supplies materials so people can build their own homes
Site and Service Scheme - people pay a low rent for a site and the money is used to provide basic services for the area.
Housing Tenure:
The wealthy can afford to rent or own decent housing and so
live in well built, gated, tall, concrete & glass apartment blocks
with electricity, drainage and piped water. These homes are
weatherproof and secure, and close to the city centre.
Migrants who have arrived from rural areas in search of work
and a higher standard of living, are usually poor and usually
cannot find well-paid work in the city, so can't afford to rent or
buy decent housing, so they build a shelter illegally. This is
informal housing and they are squatters who have no legal
rights to live there. They could be evicted at any time off the
land. These illegal settlements are called favelas. The largest
is Rochina, on a steep hillside. Favelas spring up around the
edge of cities or along transport links out of the city. Often on
land unsuitable for development, such as the steep hillsides
surrounding Rio.

4. Case Study 2 - Retail Services – Change in Brighton and Hove
Local shopping parades
1. Easy access / walking/ limited
on street parking / convenience
shops and services.
2. Important community aspect.
3. Good for elderly, young
families, young people.
4. Redevelopment of closed down
pubs / banks into mini
supermarkets – reduces need to
travel, reduces traffic. Can
damage trade for more local
convenience shops though.
• Out of Town retail – Holmbush –
Shoreham (Tesco / M&S / Next)
1. Large supermarkets / stores.
Edge of city / Rural urban
fringe/ low land value. Next to
A27. Less traffic congestion in
town centres – improving air
quality.
2. Flat land easy to build on /
parking / expansion possible.
3. Good for car owners / elderly
with free buses. Difficult for
younger people to get to.
4. Bad for local shop keepers –
loss of trade, liable to close
down if in direct competition.
Large stores often open long
hours.
5. but loss of ‘greenfield site’ loss
of countryside – displacing
animals, loss of plant life.
Town Centre – Churchill Square
1. Easy access / Transport hub /
buses / trains / car parks.
2. Expensive land value, High
order comparison shops.
Leisure services. Lots of
choices.
3. Expensive parking / busy
roads. Congested.
4. Rebranded / renewed in
1998 as a result of decayed
shopping precinct that had
declined as a result of out of
town retail. Now very
successful – different shops.
5. Distinct areas in the centre –
Churchill Square / North
Laines / South Laines all
provide different range of
retail but many coffee shops
/ restaurants etc.
6. Covered or pedestrianised
and Sunday trading
increasing attractiveness of
the area.
Internet retail
1. Increasing rapidly with the
development of broadband
technology – Amazon / EBAY.
Comparison shopping risen
massively.
2. Online banking – reducing need for
banks – local branches closing (now
restaurants / bars / shops).
3. Less journeys made – reducing costs,
traffic, time loss.
4. Supermarket online shopping and
deliveries system increasing ASDA /
Sainsbury / TESCO etc.

5. Case Study 3 - Leisure and recreation services in Brighton
1. Core area around the CBD, Theatre Royal / Dome / cinema / pubs / restaurants /
clubs / Jubilee library and Prince Regent swimming pool.
2. Linear distribution along the coast – tourist and local / regional visitors, hub at
the Marina / bars restaurants / cinema / casino / bowling. King Alfred in Hove –
Closed.
3. Larger facilities at further away from city centre – Hove and Preston Parks, Hove
cricket ground, Golf courses, Withdean, Greyhound track, Amex and Race course
4. Land value lower further from the city centre – location of larger facilities.
5. Access for Young people / elderly facilitated by good bus links - city centre hub.
6. Access for car users difficult for parking / congestion in town centre/ park and
ride schemes in place. Local parks walkable, also good bus links.
7. Good train links to London helps access for visitors to centre and sea front /
brings in important revenue / improves retail services as a result.
8. Lower income groups’ access reduced to outlying facilities / travel costs.
9. Local parks helpful for lower income groups
10. A27 good link to outlying facilities / reduces cross town /traffic congestion
reduced/ journey time quicker.

6. Case Study 4 - Rural to urban migration: from the semi-arid region Caatinga in
Northeast Brazil to Rio de Janeiro
The impact of this rural-urban migration is both social and
economic.
Impact on the destination (city the migrants move in to e.g. Rio) –
1. Housing shortage - Growth of unplanned, illegal squatter
settlements – such as Rocinha.
2. Increase in crime as migrants unable to gain
employment/earn money legally in formal sector. - -
3. greater costs on .g. schools and hospitals, refuse collection
etc - city cannot cope. –
4. overcrowded roads, railways and other infrastructure e.g.
water supply, sewage system, electricity supply.
5. People tap into electricity illegally - electrocution and fires are
common. –
6. spread of disease as so many are living in overcrowded,
unhealthy conditions
7. BUT More workers to fill vacant jobs in the formal and
informal economy.
Impact on the areas of origin (rural area they leave behind eg the
drought area of NE Brazil) –
It is mostly males of working age who migrate to the city leaving
women, the elderly, the disabled and children back in the village to
try and farm the land. - Farms are less productive so possible a loss
of agricultural exports. - More money may need to be spent on
hospitals in poorer areas as the population is elderly.
Over the last 25 years approximately 75,000 people
have moved from the rural NE to the city of Rio.
to improve their quality of life/standard of living
Push factors - poor quality of life
1. Lack of work, or farm workers receive low wages.
2. No school in the area (so low adult literacy level /don't learn
sills which lead to well paid jobs etc)
3. None or poor medical facilities (so .... illness.. ....high infant
mortality/low life expectancy)
4. Unreliable water supply - frequent droughts ( crops fail/cattle
die) so farming difficult
5. no piped water, electricity or sanitation ... so..
6. Whole villages are destroyed for dam projects.
Pull factors - improving their Quality of Life
1. More chance of an easier job or higher wages.
2. Money earned can be sent home to families in the village to
improve living standards.
3. Better access to services. More schools belief that children
will get a better education
4. More clinics, hospitals, - better health care
5. A reliable, clean water supply (so....)
6. Better transport links to other parts of Brazil
7. 'Bright lights', entertainment, things to do

7. Case Study 5 – Planning issue – Housing in Rural areas – Mayfield Market Town
Where?
Mid Sussex, between Henfield and Burgess Hill, close to
Sayers Common
What?
10,000 new homes with schools, shops and other facilities
Meet the housing demands of the Mid Sussex District
Who?
Private developers - Mayfield Market Towns Ltd.
When? 2015-20
Why?
Significant pressure to increase housing stock in the UK,
particualarly SE England
Advantages
1. To ease housing pressure on numerous small villages
in Mid Sussex
2. Reduce expansion of larger towns in the region,
conserving countryside
3. Infrastructure and community benefits provided by
one large development rather than many 'add ons’
4. Increasing construction job opportunities.
5. Increasing local employment base with associated
service industries – Retail, Health, Leisure, Education.
6. Site is low grade agricultural Land, so limited impact
on agricultural output.
7. Relatively sparse populations for the area, so few
people directly effected.
Diasadvantages
1. Local parish Councils (eg. Henfield) and LAMBS (locals against Mayfield building sprawl) worried about loss of
neighbouring communities and high street facilities.
2. Loss of countryside, habitats, ecosystem disruption to wider surroundings
3. Increased road / traffic noise. Air quality reduced. Mostly commuter traffic to Gatwick / Crawley.
4. Fear of Urban Sprawl as new town merges with existing settlements of Burgess Hill and Henfield

8. Case Study 6 - Dawlish Warren: Case Study of conflict in a
rural area due to leisure use: How is conflict Managed?
1. - Zoned area – west end – leisure park and caravan parks with
seasonal services – so this means that holiday visitors are less likely
to disturb wildlife and therefore birdwatchers and walkers.
2. Golf course – clear paths and signage. – Golfers not interrupted and
walkers and dog walkers have safe passage through the golf course.
3. Nature reserve – legal designations – SSSI (National)/ SAC (EU
conservation)/ SPA (for birds)/ RAMSAR (wetland). Any damage
caused by visitors can be legally followed up by park rangers.
4. Boardwalks – reduces trampling. Therefore the vegetation cover is
maintained. This means there is les soil erosion, so blow outs don’t
occur, further damaging the plant life.
5. kissing gates – manages flow of people and prevents gates being
left open . This means that footpaths are less congested and less
likely to widen causing more trampling.
6. information boards – educating people about the vegetation and
animal life. Also the potential problems of fire .
7. By-laws to control dogs, cycling, camping, fires, barbeques- up to
20K fines.
8. Activities carefully zoned and bylaws enforced by the park rangers.
Dog walking area, sea angling area, bird watching area.
Popular leisure area:
• Up to ½ million visitors per year to Dawlish Warren – mostly low budget caravan parks.
20k on summer bank holiday on beach. Most from midlands and Wales .
Local visitors:
• Sea angling very popular off the beach –
• dog walkers
• walkers
• bird watchers.
Why so popular?
• Sand dune spit – beautiful area, sandy beaches. Good sea fishing off of the beach.
Wetland area behind spit important for bird life attracts many visitors. Links golf course.
Pleasant area for walking.
• Sand dunes provide habitats for plant communities – Heather and rare ‘Petal Wort’ and
for reptiles – Sand Lizard.
• For people – sand beach and dunes good for families.
• Provides site for golf course – links course.
Conflict:
1. Issues of trampling and fire – damages grasses so areas need fencing off at times to
allow regrowth and protection of dunes – if too much trampling sand dunes are lost.
Blow outs if vegetation lost.
2. Barbeques problematic in dry summer months – cause fires – grasses and heather burn
quickly.
3. Dog walkers, disturb bird life and sea anglers
4. Golfers disturbed by walkers straying from paths

9. Case Study 7 - Typhoon Haiyan: Case Study of an extreme
low pressure weather event:
Effects
In numbers, 4,000 dead, 2.5 million in need of food aid, 544,606
people are displaced, 1215 evacuation centres are set up, 130,074
houses were destroyed and overall 11.5 million people were affected
with the city of Tacloban being one of the most damaged areas.
The Typhoon swept through many rural villages taking up to 90% of
homes in each village.
After the storm, a lack of shelter, contaminated water and poor
medical facilities led to outbreaks of typhoid and cholera. Malaria
outbreaks also occurred.
Emergency aid (water / food / shelter / medical supplies) was slow to
arrive due to the chaotic conditions and lack of basic transport and
communication links.
1. 4,000 - Number of deaths
2. 11.5 million - Number of people affected
3. 2.5 million - Number of people in need of food aid
4. 130,000 - Number of homes destroyed
5. Disease spread - Dead bodies weren't removed from the
streets
6. Contaminated water - A result of the destroyed water
systems
7. Risk of malaria - A result of the mosquito outbreaks
Causes
Typhoon Haiyan originated from an area of low pressure several hundred kilometres
east-southeast of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia on November 2, 2013.
Moving generally westward, the system developed into a tropical depression the
following day.
After becoming a tropical storm and attaining the name Haiyan on November 4, the
system began a period of rapid intensification that brought it to typhoon intensity on
November 5, 2013.
Haiyan is unofficially the fourth most intense tropical cyclone ever observed.
• 2nd November 2013 - When it started to develop as a tropical depression
• 195mph - The highest wind speeds
• Super typhoon - What it eventually became because of high wind speeds
• 5 metres - The highest storm surge

10. Case study 7 An extreme weather event: Low pressure - Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, USA
EFFECTS Much of the US coastline of the Southern states was devastated
by Katrina.
• New Orleans is built on low lying land, mostly below sea level. It’s
surrounded by water. Engineers had protected the city by a system of
levees, or concrete sea walls. But, when Katrina hit, the surges were too
powerful, the levees broke and large parts of the downtown(poorer
area) were flooded.
DIFFERENT GROUPS of people .......
1. WEALTHY PEOPLE Left New Orleans to save themselves. They survived.
2. POOR and ELDERLY people on low incomes with no transport, and no
money for hotels stayed and suffered the most. 10,000 people sought
refuge in the Superdome football stadium.
• 1200 people drowned in flood waters.
• 1 million people were made homeless.
• Mass looting and crime while shop keepers /home owners were away.
• Hotel owners suffered as tourism came to a halt for many months
afterwards.
• Millions of dollars worth of damage caused - It will take New Orleans
years to recover
• Katrina also had a global impact. Many offshore oil facilities were
damaged. This pushed up the price of petrol in the US and the UK.
Katrina caused $200 billion damage.
RESPONSE
• 30,000 National guardsmen were eventually sent in to rescue people
and maintain law and order.
• Aid in the form of clean water, food and medical assistance.
• Location: Hurricane Katrina, SE
coast of the USA, New Orleans,
August 2005.
• Causes: a TROPICAL STORM that
developed between close to the
equator during the summer months
when surface sea temperatures reach
27 º. This caused massive, rapid
evaporation. When the water vapour
condenses into clouds, latent heat
was released, adding to the storms
power.
• Weather features: winds over
140 mph, heavy rainfall, storm surges
of over 6m

11. Case study 8 - An ecosystem: management -Amazon Rainforest - NW
Brazil
Impact of human activity
• Trees are cut down to clear the land for mining( eg copper), farming,(cattle
ranching or palm trees for bio-fuels), logging, building roads and
settlements.
Positive impacts - Money can be earned for the area from selling timber,
mineral deposits farming, cattle and palm oil for bio-fuels. Also transport is
improved as more roads are built across the rainforest.
Negative impacts - as land is cleared, natural habitats are destroyed -
creatures could become endangered/extinct, plants with curative powers could
be destroyed before they have been tested, loss of soil by erosion, area becomes
desertified as interfering with the water cycle and local climate, soil will lose its
nutrients and become infertile.
How might the ecosystems be managed in a
sustainable way?
Sustainable - the use of resources and environments in ways that benefit us but
will allow them to be used in the future by future generations. Don't destroy
them.
1. - selective logging methods eg; animals not machines to pull out the
trees-and a limit placed on number of trees/species of trees that can
be cut down.
2. national parks - are set up to protect the forest and its wildlife
3. Bio-sphere reserves- where people are allowed to live, but only the
tribes live in the centre where they can continue living their traditional
way of life. settlements are only allowed around the edges.
4. medical reserves- large pharmaceutical companies buy up large areas
to prevent them being destroyed. Look for cures for diseases.
5. animal corridors - plant trees to link up remaining patches of forest -
animals can migrate between them
6. agro-forestry – local farmers grow suitable crops between and under
the trees so land doesn’t need to be cleared of trees but the farmers
will have food to eat/sell
7. restrictions re the type of machinery that can be used in the forest
8. eco-tourism - Provides income from sustainable tourism
The importance of the vegetation
• Oxygen - photosynthesis-plants use sun's light energy to
convert O2 and CO2 into glucose and oxygen -essential for
animal/human life
• Trees store water -between periods of rainfall, so
reducing the risk of river floods
• Roots help to stabilise the soil – preventing it from
being eroded by heavy rain - especially in rainforest .
• Leaves - shelters soil from
i) drying out, crumbling & wind erosion.
ii) protects the soil from direct rainfall & soil erosion and decomposing
leaves provide nutrients to the soil (nutrient cycle)
• Water cycle - transpiration from trees produces clouds and
rainfall steady supply of clean water to rivers
Economic benefits of the tropical rainforest
• Providing natural materials such as timber , plants and drugs
used in medicines, food stuffs such as honey, fruit and nuts.
Has a huge bio-diversity -Plants and wild animals there may
contain chemicals that might be useful to agriculture
or medicine

12. Case study 9 - Desertification: Sahel,
south of the Sahara Desert, Africa
Physical causes - drought. The Sahel experiences a wet and dry season. But due to
climate change there have been decreased amounts of rainfall and many years of
drought (causing over 100,000 deaths in the 1980s.) Also because it is so hot here,
the evapo-transpiration rates are high.
Human causes -A shift from being nomads to being forced to settle down in one
place; along with population increase has led to people removing the natural
vegetation by 'slash and burn' so they can farm the land and they keep more grazing
animals. As a result there has been over-grazing and along with deforestation for
firewood; this has led to soil erosion (by wind or rain). Over-cultivation has led to
the soil losing its nutrients. Either way; crops have failed leading to hunger, famine
and deaths (mainly infants and the elderly result). The soil erosion has led to
desertification.
• Poor farming methods- e.g. farming steep hillsides has led to gullying.
• Poverty -unable to invest in irrigation or chemical fertilizers.
Solutions
1. Terrace the hillsides
2. Use compost and manure to increase the fertility of the soil
3. Harvest rainwater
4. Grow crops which are drought resistant or produce a higher yield.
5. Grow fast growing trees for firewood, and fruit trees to sell the fruit at
market/eat
6. Construct bunds (lines of stones and rocks placed along the ground) to
slow down soil erosion.
7. Rainwater harvesting.
8. Dig wells.
Why is life so challenging for people in the Savannah?
• Little water → thirsty → dehydration
• No water for animals → may force farmers to move → some
animals may die on journey
• Vegetation is sparse → so food may be in short supply → this
may lead to malnutrition / health problems / death / lower
work productivity.
• No water → cattle may have to be slaughtered → so no
future breeding stock / meat (milk).
• Lack of firewood → no fuel for cooking → so wider search
area for fuel needed.
Managing desertification
• Most are LEDCs → so no money → resources available →
countries like Kenya have other priorities such as dealing
with urbanisation.
• Climate change is a worldwide issue → some MEDCs not
willing to change their ways in terms of cause of climate
change → as it will cost them / slow their progress
• Solutions are long term → so people will need support to
change local traditions → many may be reluctant to change
farming practice / education programmes run by NGOs and
so impact will not reach out to all as NGO resources are
limited.
The Sahel is belt of land that lies
between the Sahara desert and
more fertile, wetter Savannah
further south. The Sahel stretches
across Africa from west to east. It
has a population of 50 million
people (most are farmers). The
Sahel is rapidly turning from dry
Savannah into a desert due to
physical and human causes.

13. CASE STUDY 10 - Regional scale River Flood:-
Bangladesh - The causes and impacts of the September
1998 Flood
Bangladesh - Fact File
• Is one of the world's most densely populated countries!
• has a population of 125m inhabitants
• is one of the poorest countries in the world with a GNP of $200 per head
• has three of the world's most powerful rivers passing through its country -
The Ganges, the Meghna & the Brahmaputra
• contains virtually no raw materials or rock
• experiences floods and tropical storms every year
The 5 Physical Causes of the Floods
1. Most of the country consists of a huge flood plain and delta, 70% of the
total area is less than 1 metre above sea level, 10% of the land area is
made up of Lakes and Rivers.
2. Snowmelt from the Himalayas takes place in late spring & summer
3. Bangladesh experiences heavy monsoon rains, especially over the
highlands
4. Tropical storms bring heavy rains and coastal flooding
5. The main cause was the above average & long period of heavy rain
which caused all 3 rivers to have their peak flow at the same time!!!
The 5 Human Causes of the Floods
1. Deforestation in Nepal and the Himalayas increases run off and adds to
deposition and flooding downstream
2. Urbanisation of the flood plain has increased magnitude & frequency of
floods
3. the building of dams in India has increased the problem of
sedimentation in Bangladesh
4. Global warming is blamed for sea level rise, increased snow melt &
increased rainfall in the region
5. Poorly maintained embankments (levees) leak & collapse in times of
high discharge
The Effects of the 1998 Floods – in bold – different groups of
people
• Over 57% of the land area was flooded
• Over 1300 people were killed – Elderly and young children most
vulnerable
• 7 million homes were destroyed - Rural villagers, mostly poor
families
• 25 million people were made homeless
• There was a serious shortage of drinking water & dry food – Water
companies
• Diseases spread such as bronchitis and cholera/diarrhoea - medical
services
• As the waters receded - it left fields of rotting crops, wrecked roads
and bridges and destroyed villages – transport networks – any
distribution services including aid agencies
• 2 million tonnes of rice was destroyed - Farmers
• 1/2 million cattle and poultry were lost - Farmers
• Overall the floods cost the country almost $1 billion – Government

14. Case study 11 – Local scale River Flood Management - River Adur
Background information
River Adur – West Sussex. Sources – west – Burgess Hill, East –
North of Henfield – confluence.. Flows past Bramber, Upper
Beeding to mouth at Shoreham – spit divering flow eastwards to
harbour.
• Mainly rural catchment area, dairy and cereal farming.
• Upper course very short, long middle and lower course –
gentle gradient, wide flood plain, developed meanders.
• Tidal up to Henfield.
• Historically used for navigation of coastal trade up to
Bramber – now too shallow as river silted up and boats got
too large 1700s.
• Urban areas in Lower course at risk of flooding – Upper
Beeding, Bramber and significantly, Shoreham.
Flood prevention:
1. Hard engineering - Embankments on River from middle course. Have been in
place for several hundred years but have been improved and maintained by
EA – increase channel capacity especially important in tidal reaches.
2. Soft engineering -Controlled Flood zones on the middle course and lower
course – Sluice gates allow water to flood areas of the floodplain between
Beeding and Henfield.
3. Mouth and estuary at Shoreham Dredged to allow efficient discharge to sea.
4. Careful upper and middle catchment monitoring – gauging stations on 4
weirs in upper course upstream of confluence Nr Henfield to operate sluice
gates to control flooding and to provide flood warnings to downstream
settlements.
Groups of people effected by management strategies:
• Protects village residents of Bramber, Upper Beeding,
Shoreham.
• Outlying rural farms and homes at risk during controlled flood
events if extreme – Jan 2014, December 2000.
• Farmers – floodplain used for dairy and sheep farming – fertile
soils due to rich alluvial deposits from flood events. EA warning
system in place for seasonal movement of livestock.
• Road users - Local roads and bridges mostly protected by fllod
management scheme – A281 (Henfield – Shoreham).
• Shermanbury – Mockbridge A281 Henfield – Horsham flooded
during extreme events.
Sustainability
• Environmental – Controlled flooding ,maintains wetland ecosystems and natural flood
plain dynamics. Plant communities diverse, wetland bird species thrive particularly in
the winter months.
• Economic – key roads protected maintaining commercial traffic flow and therefore local
businesses. Road users for business or pleasure see little disruption. Cost benefit
therefore high. Local villages and town of Shoreham protected against flooding,
preventing economic costs and ensuring insurance is still viable. Farming viable and
benefits from seasonal alluvial deposits on grazing land.
• Social – Local residents enjoy higher levels of security due to flood management.
Homes most at risk have direct links to EA flood warning systems. Local business traffic
not disrupted therefore businesses do not suffer and local employment not affected.
Travel and transport systems able to operate freely most of the time – except
Mockbridge north of Henfield.
• Future issues – rising sea levels, therefore tidal flooding. Urbanisation of upper and
middle catchement.

15. Case Study 12 – Coastal Management – Start Bay
• Location – South Hams district, South Devon SW England.
• Issue – An area vulnerable to Coastal flooding
• Rural area with high levels of tourism as a consequence of its
outstanding Natural beauty.
• Historical issues – offshore removal of shingle led to destruction
of Hallsands 1917. Major storm in 1979 lead to implementing
hard defences now in place.
• Onshore bar and beaches a result of onshore movement of
material (marine transgression) no longer happening so natural
beach replenishment stopped.
• Local economy dependent on Tourism, Farming and fishing.
• Key settlements of Beesands, Torcross, important honeypots for
local tourist industry.
• Management needs to consider protecting coastal communities
and maintaining natural beauty and ecosystems of the area.
• Slapton Sands and Ley are popular with birdwatchers and
visitors due to the high level of diversity of bird life and the areas
outstanding natural beauty.
• Future threats – Rising sea levels due to global warming (eustatic
change) and sinking land (isostatic realignment). Increasing
frequency of intense storm events; Off shore removal of shingle
must be controlled.
Key strategy - Hold the line, achieved by use of hard
engineering in village locations and soft engineering in
AONB.
Key locations :
• Hallsands south village destroyed 1917, north village
protected by Rip Rap and newer properties set back
from the sea. Beach still reducing in width with lack of
supply from offshore due to the net loss of shingle
from dredging 100 years ago.
• Beesands and Torcross- Village holiday homes, pubs,
restuarants and fishing community protected by sea
wall / rock amour. High Cost benefit. Economically and
socially sustainable for next 50 years. Environmentally
poor, due to aesthetics and disruption of natural
processes - increases beach material removal. 2014
extreme event saw damage to waterfront homes and
businesses.
• Slapton Sands (Shingle Bar) – AONB / SSSI / National
Nature Reserve (Ley). A379 main road link to coastal
communities from neighbouring Dartmouth and
Kingsbridge. Beach replenishment every 18 months
moving material from the Northern end back to the
southern end. Shingle bastions built up at key points
near main car park (important for visitor revenue) and
main road nearest the sea. 2014 saw significant
flooding and erosion. Soft management to continue as
the only option due to environmental sustainability.
Costs is high for continued management but
outweighed by the need to maintain the road link and
the balance of the lagoon ecosystem (Slapton Ley)