“…In England and Wales, the strategic planning of defence works relies on Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) for coasts and estuaries (MAFF, 1993(MAFF, , 1995, and more recently, on Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMPs) for rivers (Oakes, 2002), currently being developed in the context of the European Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC, hereafter the WFD). Both these sets of plans are prepared by operating authorities following guidance from Defra.…”