Bude Adaptive Pathways

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Our role
Client challenges
Solutions assessed
Outcomes & benefits
Value delivered

Our role
Client challenges
Solutions assessed
Outcomes & benefits
Value delivered

Markets

Water
Services

Engineering & design
Location

Cornwall, UK
Client

Environment Agency

Paul Canning

Associate Director, Water & Environment, Bristol, UK contact form

Bude Adaptive Pathways was a national pilot project designed to develop new, more effective ways of engaging coastal communities in long‑term adaptation planning. As one of the UK’s most sensitive locations to sea‑level rise, Bude faces increasing pressure from coastal erosion, storm impacts and future flood risk. The project aimed to help the community understand these challenges, explore sustainable adaptation options and participate meaningfully in shaping a resilient future for their coastline.

Client challenges

Coastal adaptation is socially sensitive, technically complex and difficult to communicate through traditional engineering‑led methods. Bude’s community has a long, active history of coastal use, and any change to the coastline or its amenities requires clear, accessible, evidence‑based communication. The Environment Agency needed a modern, science‑driven and community‑centred approach to explain how erosion, flooding and climate change interact, as well as what adaptation could look like over time.

Our role

AtkinsRéalis delivered a multidisciplinary programme combining coastal science, digital innovation and stakeholder engagement. Our work included:

Coastal, geomorphological and storm‑impact analysis
Integrated modelling of combined flooding and coastal erosion, highlighting exponential future risks
Early‑stage exploration of non‑engineered adaptation options
Development of 3D photorealistic interactive visualisations using the Unity gaming engine
Creation of detailed community personas and workshop testing of preferred communication formats
An open digital engagement platform sharing visuals, science, uncertainties, policies and monitoring information

This approach represented a step‑change in how coastal change and adaptation can be communicated locally and nationally.

Outcomes & benefits

Through close collaboration with the Environment Agency and the community, the project delivered:

A major advance in UK coastal adaptation communication, now influencing national practice
Community‑led understanding of erosion, flooding, climate change and adaptation pathways
Visualisation of sustainable future options that increased community buy‑in and long‑term resilience
Potential for tens of properties to benefit from future risk‑reduction measures
Replication of the visualisation approach at other vulnerable locations (e.g., Powderham Banks)

The project also created a foundation for significant further investment, including:

£6M from the Flood & Coastal Innovation Programme (Making Space for Sand)
£3M from the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme
Establishment of a Bude Community Jury

The project was Highly Commended in the Coastal Management category at the Flood & Coast Excellence Awards 2022.

Value delivered

AtkinsRéalis brought together engineering, environmental science, behavioural insight and immersive digital technology to transform how coastal adaptation is understood. By merging erosion and flood modelling, creating interactive visualisations, and developing deep community insights, we enabled mature, informed conversations about Bude’s future. The result was improved local sustainability, accelerated investment and a powerful new national model for climate‑resilient coastal planning.