Coastal Erosion- Soft engineering methods.

Beach Nourishment-

This involves replacing sediment that has been lost through long shore drift or erosion. The sediment that has been moved further down the beach is moved back to its original area of the beach by local authorities. The longer incoming waves have to travel the more power they lose, this process creates a wider beach which reduces the power of the waves that hit the beach. As a result of this the amount of coastal erosion, such as hydraulic action, the beach is subjected reduces. This process usually takes place in between the tourist season, in order to reduce disruption. It costs around £3000 per 
km, the process will need to be repeated fairly regularly in order to
maintain the coastal defense.

Managed Retreat-

Managed retreat is a method whereby we allow the sea to erode and create land forms such as spits and salt marshes. Cliff erosion is allowed to occur in areas of low value farmland, farmers are then compensated for their losses. This method is cheaper than constructing more expensive coastal defenses. This can only work where the coasts of compensation are significantly less than the coasts of building coastal defenses.
It can also be beneficial to plants and animals by providing new 
habitat. The cost of this coastal defense depends

on the amount needed to compensate local people.

Sand Dunes Regeneration-

Sand Dunes often form naturally however they are fragile and come under threat because of people walking over them. Sand Dune regeneration involves using fencing to help trap sand and planting vegetation to reinforce the Sand Dune. By encouraging the formation of Sand Dunes the coastline is protected, this is because Sand Dunes intercept and absorb storm and wave energy. This costs around £2,000 per 100m.

Do Nothing-

This a method that is similar to Managed Retreat, however there are no costs at all for the local authorities. This method of doing nothing and letting nature take its course only occur in uninhabited areas of the country. These areas are not considered valuable by the government as they do not have people, houses, businesses or public buildings. This is by far the cheapest method of coastal defence as it costs the local authorities nothing.