University helps to lead calls for investment in coastal communities

New research confirms growing socio-economic challenges but highlights potential to drive national growth
View of Saltash, Cornwall from Plymouth, Devon across the River Tamar
Research coordinated by the University of Plymouth has inspired calls for a comprehensive strategy to tackle disadvantage and improve lives in coastal towns and cities.
On the Waterfront advocates for a renewed policy focus on coastal communities, and the development of coherent strategies tailored to their unique needs, with the aim of fostering economic resilience, social equity, and environmental stewardship.
The new report is from Key Cities, a national cross-party network representing 25 urban centres across the UK. The research analysis behind the report was led by Professor Sheena Asthana and Professor Sheela Agarwal , Co-Directors of the University’s Centre for Coastal Communities .

This important policy report clearly highlights the multiple and inter-linked challenges facing our medium, large, and major coastal cities.

The sad fact is that many of the problems highlighted within it are not new and have become endemic over many decades. If we are to adequately address the socio-economic challenges facing our coastal communities, we need to collect more relevant data reflecting the challenges faced by coastal communities to encourage a more sustained focus from policy makers and long-term investment. With that, our hope would be that the lives of present and future residents can be substantially improved.

Sheela AgarwalProfessor Sheela Agarwal
Co-Director of the Centre for Coastal Communities

Professors Asthana and Agarwal collaborated with academic colleagues, local authorities and others ranging from GPs to harbour masters to develop a clearer understanding of the challenges facing coastal communities.
Their analysis shows that following half a century of decline, Britain’s traditional coastal communities remain markedly disadvantaged compared to their inland counterparts in terms of educational attainment, health outcomes and poverty.
The communities’ ability to address these and other factors is in turn being hampered by inadequate infrastructure, underfunded schools, and heightened risks from floods and coastal erosion.
To counter this, the report includes 28 recommendations designed to begin addressing some of these challenges, while empowering, protecting, connecting and investing in ports and coastal communities to reposition them as engines of creativity and growth.
The Key Cities network comprises representatives from communities including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Cumberland, Hull, Lancaster, Medway, Newport, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Sunderland.
Its latest report was launched during an event arranged by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Key Cities, which was attended by Professor Asthana, Professor Agarwal and a number of other Plymouth academics.
They included Professor Chris Bennewith and Professor Katharine Willis , who spoke at the Key Cities Innovation Network Conference 2024 about the role of cultural and creative industries in tackling coastal deprivation.
On the Waterfront report launch
University researchers with other Plymouth officials launching the new On the Waterfront report on Monday 10 March 2025

The economic potential of our regional ports and their crucial role in achieving net zero targets are undervalued. The report advocates for renewed focus and coherent strategies tailored to the unique needs of coastal communities, aimed at fostering economic resilience, social equity, and environmental stewardship. I fully endorse the recommendations it makes which are themed around empowerment, protection, connection, and investment as foundational strategies. I hope that it serves as a clarion call for our new Government to act swiftly.

Cllr Tudor Evans
Leader of Plymouth City Council and Key Cities Portfolio Holder for Ports and Coastal Communities 
The new report is the latest project involving the University to highlight the challenges facing coastal communities and how they might be overcome.
In the Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2021 , Professor Asthana and Dr Alex Gibson presented evidence that coastal communities experience a significantly higher burden of disease than their non-coastal counterparts.
Professor Asthana, Professor Agarwal and Dr Gibson are also collaborating with academic and policy stakeholders , including the Office of National Statistics (ONS), on a project analysing and classifying the economic, social, cultural, historical, and geographic characteristics of English coastal communities.
 

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