Halcrow expertise helped bring together the findings of a European Union research project and provided guidance on future applications.
The project, ComCoast (COMbined functions in COASTal defence zones), involved input from the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The UK’s Environment Agency commissioned Halcrow to compare current methods of socio-economic assessment across the partner countries and develop international guidance for evaluating socio-economic benefits of multifunctional coastal schemes.
Halcrow produced a state-of-the-art report focusing on socio-economic assessment in the UK, followed by a review and comparison of approaches in the four partner countries – the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Denmark.
We also gathered and reviewed information relating to a number of pilot managed realignment and tidal exchange studies carried out in all five countries and summarised these in a report.
Finally, we drew together the information from these reports and data provided by three PhD students, relating to the fish nursery function of managed realignment sites, carbon sequestration by estuarine intertidal sites and contingent valuation studies of managed realignment, in a guidance document.
Entitled Practical application of evaluation techniques for a ComCoast solution, the guidance is available on the ComCoast website and can be used by flood risk managers, land use planners and other stakeholders to help identify suitable scheme options and the quantifiable benefits that could result from implementation.