The Coastal Resilience and Regeneration Conference 2027
Previous Supporters Include
Overview
Coastal towns are entering a new phase of regeneration. Across England, communities are responding to long-standing challenges around housing, town centre renewal, economic diversification, infrastructure, skills and public investment, while also planning for the long-term future of their coastlines.
As the UK Government strengthens its approach to coastal resilience through 2027, policy is increasingly moving beyond traditional hard defences towards long-term adaptation and place-based regeneration. The Government has committed £7.9 billion for flood and coastal erosion risk management between 2026/27 and 2035/36, alongside £30 million investment for Coastal Adaptation Pilots and at least £300 million for natural flood management, ports, fishing and maritime industries (DEFRA, 2025). Together, these programmes are creating new opportunities to improve housing, invest in infrastructure, support local economies and strengthen the long-term future of coastal communities.
The Coastal Regeneration and Resilience Conference 2027 brings together leaders from regeneration, planning, coastal management and economic development to explore how coastal towns can secure investment, strengthen local economies, deliver housing and infrastructure, and respond to long-term coastal change.
Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Professor Sheela Agarwal, Professor of Regional Economic Development and Coastal Futures, Plymouth Business School, University of Plymouth (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: The New Coastal Agenda: Regeneration, Resilience and Renewal
- Gain insight into the latest policy changes and developments shaping the future of coastal regeneration and resilience
- Examine how coastal adaptation, planning, housing, economic development and environmental policy are becoming increasingly interconnected
- Identify the key challenges and opportunities emerging for coastal communities as they respond to changing coastal risk and wider social and economic pressures
- Consider what the evolving policy landscape means for the future direction of coastal regeneration and resilience in 2027 and beyond
Julie Foley, Director of FCERM Strategy and Adaptation, Environment Agency (invited)
Keynote: Making Coastal Regeneration Happen: Funding, Investment and Delivery
- Examine how government investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management is being translated into projects and long-term resilience
- Understand the changing investment landscape for flood and coastal erosion risk management
- Identify the challenges around funding, investment and delivery when planning for long-term coastal change
- Consider how coastal authorities can align resilience investment with wider regeneration and place-based priorities
David Lawrence, Head of Flood and Coastal Erosion Investment Assurance, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (invited)
Keynote: The Future of the Coastal Economy: Ports, Fishing and Maritime Industries
- Examine the role of ports, fishing and maritime industries in supporting economic diversification and coastal regeneration
- Gain insight into how investment in maritime sectors can contribute to jobs, skills, infrastructure and local economic growth
- Explore how current funding and investment priorities are influencing existing regeneration plans and shaping future opportunities for ports, fishing and maritime industries
Richard Jones, Head of Governance and Interim CEO, Maritime UK (invited)
Case Study: Rethinking Regeneration in Smaller Coastal Towns
- Explore approaches to regeneration that move beyond traditional reliance on seasonal tourism and implementing diverse local economies
- Understand the challenges facing smaller coastal towns, including town centre decline, investment gaps and changing visitor and resident needs
- Consider how regeneration can support more attractive, viable places to live, work and invest
- Assess how place-making and improved public spaces can strengthen local identity, support residents and visitors, and contribute to year-round economic resilience
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking: Connecting for Coastal Regeneration and Resilience
Join our breakout networking to exchange practical experiences, discuss shared challenges and connect with professionals shaping the future of coastal regeneration and resilience.
Comfort Break
Case Study: Housing Coastal Communities: Development, Affordability and Resilience
- Gain insight into the challenges of delivering housing in communities facing affordability pressures alongside increasing flood and coastal erosion risk
- Examine how planning and regeneration priorities can support good-quality and affordable housing
- Consider what coastal change means for new and existing homes, including longer-term resilience and adaptation
- Identify opportunities to bring empty and underused properties back into use, and consider when refurbishment, repurposing or redevelopment can make better use of existing places and buildings
Cllr Dave Flanagan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Blackpool Council (invited)
Keynote: Working with Nature: Rewilding, Nature-Based Solutions and Costal Resilience
- Explore the growing role of nature-based solutions in managing flood and coastal erosion risk, reflecting on shoreline management plans and coastal adaptation pilots
- Gain insight into the potential of saltmarsh, dunes, natural flood management, green-grey infrastructure, blue-green infrastructure and coastal rewilding
- Examine how nature-based approaches can be incorporated into wider regeneration, planning and coastal management
- Assess the opportunities and practical considerations associated with reducing reliance on traditional hard-engineering approaches
Panel: Regenerating for a Changing Coast: Climate Risk, Adaptation and Building Resilience
- Understand the climate hazards facing coastal places, including sea-level rise, coastal flooding, erosion and extreme weather
- Examine approaches to improving the resilience of local infrastructure from roads, transport, utilities, public spaces, and resilient infrastructure can support wider regeneration and coastal adaptation
- Discuss how climate risk, adaptation and resilience are influencing investment, planning and regeneration decisions
- Explore practical examples of adaptation and resilience in action, and what they mean for the future of coastal towns and communities
- Consider how regeneration can help create places that are resilient to future climate conditions, while remaining socially, economically and environmentally viable
Giles Bloomfield, Coastal Manager, Great Yarmouth Borough Council (CONFIRMED)
Rob Goodliffe, Coastal Transition Manager, North Norfolk District Council (CONFIRMED)
Richard Jackson, Coastal Change Manager, East Riding of Yorkshire Council (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Professor Sheela Agarwal, Professor of Regional Economic Development and Coastal Futures, Plymouth Business School, University of Plymouth (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers Include
Dr Stephen Essex
Associate Professor in Geography
University of Plymouth
Dr Steve Millington
Reader
Institute of Place Management
Lydia Rusling
Assistant Director for Economic Growth
South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership
Alan Cavill
Assistant Chief Executive
Blackpool Council
Samantha Richardson MBE
Director
National Coastal Tourism Academy
Dave Ryland
Community Connections - Strategic Manager
Plymouth City Council
Testimonials
The seaside and regeneration conference was really insightful
An informative and professionally run conference
Always very useful to see what others are doing for their coastal communities
Why You Should Attend
✓ Gain practical insights into the changing landscape of coastal regeneration, resilience and climate adaptation
✓ Explore approaches to supporting the long-term regeneration and resilience of smaller coastal communities
✓ Understand the role of nature-based solutions, ports, fishing and maritime industries in supporting resilient coastal economies
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues across regeneration, planning, coastal management, economic development and local government
✓ Earn 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Examples |
| Director of Regeneration | Local Authorities |
| Director of Place | Environment Agency |
| Head of Planning | Tourism Bodies |
| Climate Resilience Manager | Combined Authorities |
| Coastal Management | Housing Providers |
| Director of Housing | Infrastructure Providers |
| Development Manager | Civil Contingencies |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
