Port and Coastal Cities and Towns Network (PoCCiToNe / iPact)

Port and Coastal Cities and Towns Network was a UKRI project, led by the University of Southampton, to develop a network of researchers and practitioners in subjects relating to infrastructure needs in ports and coastal cities. Centred on Southampton, North Norfolk and Morecambe Bay.

The Towns network (iPACT) was established to identify people-focused, infrastructure-based solutions to the complex problem of improving social well-being and prosperity in coastal communities through resilient and sustainable regeneration; with a key emphasis on taking advantage of the coastal location.

Research questions have been based around themes of: Connectivity with the coast; Inclusive infrastructure
Maintaining and enhancing resilience; Coastal region transport; Nature-inspired, human scale engineering

Project partners include Southampton City Council, Lancaster City Council, Eden North
and Coastal Partnership East (North Norfolk District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough
Council, Waveney District Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council). Case study areas of
Southampton, North Norfolk and Morecambe encapsulate the issues faced by the spectrum
of port cities and coastal towns, including juxtaposition with major international
ports, seaside resorts declining in popularity and historic communities with an ageing
population facing coastal erosion and sealevel rise.

Reports from a series of WeValue community-based consultations informed three workshops with iPACT researchers, one in each case study location. From these we developed six “Pilot Projects”, to assess
the feasibility of potential solutions. The outcomes of these projects are summarised in the final brochure publication.

Although the Pilot Projects and the initial grant funding are now at an end, the iPACT network continues as a collaborative research and user community to develop and help implement sustainable infrastructure solutions that improve the wellbeing, resilience and sustainability of the UK’s coastal settlements for decades to come.