'Soft' rock sea cliffs, State 3 - stabilised

This is generally the desired state from a coast protection perspective. The value of the cliff lies in the fact that it is not eroding. Property is protected and there is less of a threat from falling debris. Many of these areas still retain their landscape value and being more stable they are also likely to be more accessible for recreational purposes.

Accompanying this increase in stability is a reduction in their value for the species of open habitats characteristic of more dynamic cliffs (State 2).

Caveat: Even the most stable of these 'soft' rock cliffs are prone to erosion. This can take place over relatively long timescales and lead to the development important landslips associated with stabilised (State 4) cliffs. Where infrastructure has been built in these areas (such as houses and hotels) than catastrophic losses of property and sometimes life can occur ). Axemouth to Lyme Regis and more recently the Scarborough hotel are cases in point.