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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 840
COUNTRYSIDE, ENGLAND
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin)
(Harwich to Shotley Gate) (No. 1) Order 2026
Made - - - - 16th July 2026
Coming into force - - 17th July 2026
The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3A(10) of
the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000(1).
Citation, commencement and interpretation
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Harwich to
Shotley Gate) (No. 1) Order 2026 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.
(2) In this Order—
“the Act” means the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949(2);
“the relevant approvals” means the approval, by the Secretary of State(3) under section 52(1)
of the Act(4) of each of the proposals contained in the—
(a) England Coast Path Harwich to Shotley Gate HSG4, Hopping Bridge, Mistley to
Brantham Hall Farm report on 31st August 2021;
(b) England Coast Path Harwich to Shotley Gate HSG5, Brantham Hall Farm to Lower
Holbrook report on 18th September 2025;
(c) England Coast Path Harwich to Shotley Gate HSG6, Lower Holbrook to Shotley Gate
report on 18th September 2025.
(1) 2000 c. 37; section 3A was inserted by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), section 303(5).
(2) 1949 c. 97.
(3) The functions of the Secretary of State under sections 51 and 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act
1949 (c. 97) were originally vested in the Minister of Town and Country Planning in relation to England and Wales (see
section 114(1) of that Act). The Minister of Town and Country Planning was renamed the Minister of Local Government and
Planning by S.I. 1951/142, and was further renamed the Minister of Housing and Local Government by S.I. 1951/1900. S.I.
1965/143 transferred (so far as relevant) the functions of the Minister of Housing and Local Government to the Minister of
Land and Natural Resources. The Ministry of Land and Natural Resources was dissolved by S.I. 1967/156 and the functions
of that Minister (so far as relevant) were transferred to the Minister of Housing and Local Government. The Ministry of
Housing and Local Government was dissolved and the functions of that Minister were transferred to the Secretary of State
by S.I. 1970/1681.
(4) Section 52(1) was amended by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), Schedule 11, Part 1,
paragraph 10(f).Document Generated: 2026-07-17
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
“the relevant report” means the report submitted by Natural England to the Secretary of State
under sections 51 and 55A of the Act(5) on 22nd January 2020(6) entitled—
(a) England Coast Path Harwich to Shotley Gate HSG4, Hopping Bridge, Mistley to
Brantham Hall Farm;
(b) England Coast Path Harwich to Shotley Gate HSG5, Brantham Hall Farm to Lower
Holbrook;
(c) England Coast Path Harwich to Shotley Gate HSG6, Lower Holbrook to Shotley Gate.
End of access preparation period
2. In relation to land which is coastal margin, as a result of the relevant approvals of each of
the proposals contained in the relevant reports, the day appointed as the day on which the access
preparation period(7) ends, is 29th July 2026.
Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural
16th July 2026 Affairs
(5) Section 51 was amended by: the Countryside Act 1968 (c. 41), section 21(2); the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70),
Schedule 30; the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43), Schedule 8, paragraph 1(7); the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25),
Schedule 10, paragraph 2(5); the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 5, Part 2, paragraph 12 and Schedule 7,
paragraph 1; and by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, Schedule 11, Part 1, paragraph 10(e). Section
55A was inserted by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, section 302(1).
(6) The reports are available at www.gov.uk or may be obtained by writing to Coastal Access Delivery Team, Natural England,
Mail Hub, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP.
(7) The term “access preparation period” is defined in section 3A(10) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
2Document Generated: 2026-07-17
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order appoints the day on which the access preparation period ends in relation to land which is
coastal margin as a result of the approval by the Secretary of State of proposals contained in reports
relating to coastal access along the long-distance route between Harwich to Shotley Gate. Copies
of the notices approval are available at www.gov.uk and may also be obtained by writing to the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London
SW1 4DF.
An impact assessment has not been prepared in respect of this order because the assumptions
underlying the Order were reflected in the impact assessment which was prepared for the Marine
and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23). It is available at www.gov.uk , or may be obtained by writing
to the Commons and Access Implementation Team at the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs at the address given above.
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