Swanage Seafront Masterplan

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Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the draft Swanage Seafront Masterplan. Generally the feedback was very positive and therefore we are delighted to reveal that Swanage Town Council unanimously adopted the masterplan at their recent council meeting with only minor amendments informed by Phase 2 public engagement.

  • Read the finalised Swanage Seafront Masterplan here
  • Read the survey results from the feedback survey here
  • Read details of the minor amendments here

On behalf of everyone at Dorset Coast Forum and Swanage Town Council thank you for helping us shape and inform the masterplan and we are really excited for the future projects that come off the back of the aspirational vision for Swanage's seafront... watch this space...

Project Background

The masterplan aims to provide a vision to inform the future management of the seafront. It aims to provide a long-term strategy that has been informed by the local community of residents, visitors and businesses.

Dorset Coast Forum are managing the community engagement and drafting of the masterplan, which will be signed off and taken forward by Swanage Town Council. Dorset Coast Forum are a neutral, independent strategic coastal partnership that specialises in working with communities along the Dorset coast to promote, enhance and protect the coast.



Engagement Activities

Stages of the Masterplan Engagement

1. Initial public consultation (Oct - Nov 2022) - Now closed

During the Summer and Autumn of 2022, Dorset Coast Forum sought views from residents, visitors and businesses to ask what was special about the seafront, how people used the seafront and it could potentially be improved. We had a fantastic response, with 1,045 people completing the survey, 122 people placing ideas on the ideas board and 344 engaging with our pop-up events and workshops. In addition more than 12,000 people viewed Facebook posts and over 4,000 people viewed webpages relating to the seafront masterplan. Engagement included some of the following activities:

  • Public survey
  • Ideas board
  • Pop up information stalls
  • Workshops

Read the public consultation report from the initial public consultation which details the findings from the survey, our ideas board and the engagement events.

2. Drafting of the masterplan (Jan - April 2023)

Dorset Coast Forum are currently taking all feedback from the survey and from people who spoke to us directly at workshops and events, to help draft the Swanage Seafront Masterplan. Partnership is key to the project and as such authorities, businesses, key organisations and community groups, will also feed their thoughts and ideas into the Masterplan.

3. Public consultation of the draft masterplan (19th June - 10th July 2023) - Now closed

The draft Masterplan will be shared with the public to gain further feedback before the Masterplan is finalised. Please look out for further updates on social media and on this webpage.

4. Re-drafting the masterplan - Current

Finalising the Swanage Seafront Masterplan for final approval from Swanage Town Council.

5. Public Launch

The final masterplan will be shared with the public online


If you have any questions please read our FAQs or feel free to get in touch at (External link)dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk


Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the draft Swanage Seafront Masterplan. Generally the feedback was very positive and therefore we are delighted to reveal that Swanage Town Council unanimously adopted the masterplan at their recent council meeting with only minor amendments informed by Phase 2 public engagement.

  • Read the finalised Swanage Seafront Masterplan here
  • Read the survey results from the feedback survey here
  • Read details of the minor amendments here

On behalf of everyone at Dorset Coast Forum and Swanage Town Council thank you for helping us shape and inform the masterplan and we are really excited for the future projects that come off the back of the aspirational vision for Swanage's seafront... watch this space...

Project Background

The masterplan aims to provide a vision to inform the future management of the seafront. It aims to provide a long-term strategy that has been informed by the local community of residents, visitors and businesses.

Dorset Coast Forum are managing the community engagement and drafting of the masterplan, which will be signed off and taken forward by Swanage Town Council. Dorset Coast Forum are a neutral, independent strategic coastal partnership that specialises in working with communities along the Dorset coast to promote, enhance and protect the coast.



Engagement Activities

Stages of the Masterplan Engagement

1. Initial public consultation (Oct - Nov 2022) - Now closed

During the Summer and Autumn of 2022, Dorset Coast Forum sought views from residents, visitors and businesses to ask what was special about the seafront, how people used the seafront and it could potentially be improved. We had a fantastic response, with 1,045 people completing the survey, 122 people placing ideas on the ideas board and 344 engaging with our pop-up events and workshops. In addition more than 12,000 people viewed Facebook posts and over 4,000 people viewed webpages relating to the seafront masterplan. Engagement included some of the following activities:

  • Public survey
  • Ideas board
  • Pop up information stalls
  • Workshops

Read the public consultation report from the initial public consultation which details the findings from the survey, our ideas board and the engagement events.

2. Drafting of the masterplan (Jan - April 2023)

Dorset Coast Forum are currently taking all feedback from the survey and from people who spoke to us directly at workshops and events, to help draft the Swanage Seafront Masterplan. Partnership is key to the project and as such authorities, businesses, key organisations and community groups, will also feed their thoughts and ideas into the Masterplan.

3. Public consultation of the draft masterplan (19th June - 10th July 2023) - Now closed

The draft Masterplan will be shared with the public to gain further feedback before the Masterplan is finalised. Please look out for further updates on social media and on this webpage.

4. Re-drafting the masterplan - Current

Finalising the Swanage Seafront Masterplan for final approval from Swanage Town Council.

5. Public Launch

The final masterplan will be shared with the public online


If you have any questions please read our FAQs or feel free to get in touch at (External link)dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk


  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Lower High Street, Swanage between Seymer Road and Encombe Road (in both directions) has been temporarily closed, a distance of approximately 80 metres.  The temporary closure is programmed to start from 17th August 2023 until 21st August 2023. 


    The aims of this are to review the impact of any potential closure relating to possible future public realm improvements on Lower High Street.


    On behalf of Dorset Council, Dorset Coast Forum will be using the opportunity of the temporary road closure to gain valuable feedback from stakeholders, residents, and visitors to inform public realm options in this area for future projects. 


    Thank you for taking part in this short survey.


    Take Survey
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Page last updated: 21 Feb 2024, 02:26 PM