Rising Seas, Rising Stakes: What the New Coastal Bill Does
The bill promises billions for sea defences and a plan for towns that can't be saved. Here's what's in it and who decides.
For the first time, the government has put in writing that not every stretch of coastline will be defended. The new coastal bill sets out how funding is prioritised, and what happens to communities left outside the line.
Who decides
Local councils will draw up adaptation plans, but the money comes from a national fund with fixed criteria: homes protected per pound spent, critical infrastructure and long-term cost.
Residents in at-risk villages want guaranteed compensation if their homes become uninsurable. The bill offers relocation grants, but critics say the amounts fall far short of what a house is worth today.