West Lothian Council is advancing its efforts to address coastal risks, with a report to the Council Executive next week seeking approval to finalise the draft Regional Plan for coastal adaptation.

Despite having a coastline of only 6km along the Firth of Forth, the Council has a legal duty under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to develop a local plan in response to identified risks of coastal erosion and flooding. This proactive approach aligns with the new Scottish Government Coastal Change Adaptation Planning (CCAP) Guidance published in February 2023.

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The Council is requesting approval to launch a public consultation on both the final Regional Plan and the forthcoming Coastal Adaptation Plan.

The project is supported by the Scottish Government Coastal Change Adaptation Fund, which has committed a total of £11.7 million between 2022 and 2026 to help local authorities across Scotland prepare their plans and deliver resilience actions.

West Lothian was allocated £100,000 from the fund. This figure reflects the area's position as a low-risk coastal authority with fewer assets at immediate risk compared to other regions.

The development of the Coastal Change Adaptation Plan (CCAP) is described as a significant and proactive step in meeting the Council's statutory climate duties, and, crucially, in safeguarding West Lothian's coastal communities, assets, and natural environment from the increasing impacts of climate change.