The Shotley peninsular is bounded by the estuaries of the Rivers Stour and Orwell, which form one of the most notable natural harbours – Harwich Harbour - on the East Coast of England. The harbour is the home of the internationally renown ports of Harwich and Felixstowe. Although the peninsula is not included on everyone's tourist trail through Suffolk, it is an area of outstanding natural beauty and is a magnet to naturalists, walkers, bird-watchers, horse-riders, cyclists and yachtsmen alike. 

 


Shotley Parish, at the extreme south easterly end of the Shotley Peninsula, covers approximately 60sq.km and has a population of more that 2,300 people. The Parish is made up of 3 distinct settlements; a hamlet centered on the Church, Shotley Gate principally family housing in 1960s and 1980s developments, and Shotley Street which contains a large element of social housing. Of particular note is the historical shore-based Royal Navy training facility, HMS Ganges, which currently lies derelict. Here there are several listed buildings and recently Napoleonic era buildings and fortifications have been discovered. 

      

The following table highlights the key community services available in the Shotley Parish.

Three key developments will have a very significant impact on the Shotley community in the coming years. A development has been granted for 150 housing units at Shotley Marina, a revised planning application is expected for the HMS Ganges site following the Secretary of State's rejection of a development of 325 properties, and the development of Bathside Bay which, together with the existing Felixstowe and Harwich facilities, will create the largest concentration of port and dock facilities in the country. The two housing developments may well double the population of the village, placing a huge strain on the existing social, transport and economic infrastructure and of course environmental sites of international significance.