Future Coast Charmouth - Adaptation Plan and Community Drop-In 

As part of the Future Coast Dorset project, Dorset Council is working with coastal communities to develop Adaptation Plans for areas affected by coastal change, including Charmouth. 

Our coastline is constantly shaped by natural processes such as cliff recession and coastal erosion. These changes are expected to increase in the future due to climate change and sea level rise. By planning ahead, communities can better understand the risks they face and explore ways to adapt and build long-term resilience for future generations. 

What is an Adaptation Plan?

The Adaptation Plan will: 

• assess risks associated with future coastal change

• consider how these changes could affect the community, infrastructure and environment 

• explore long-term options and actions to help communities adapt over time 

The Plan is being developed collaboratively, combing technical evidence with local knowledge and community input. 

Community Drop-In Event - Have Your Say

A public drop-in session will take place in Charmouth, giving everyone the opportunity to learn more about Adaptation Plans and share their views. 

Location: St Andrews Community Hall, Charmouth

Date and Time: Thursday 5th February, 5-8pm

The drop-in session will include:

• information on the Future Coast Charmouth Adaptation Plan
• a short presentation on Adaptation Plans at approximately 6pm
• displays showing emerging ideas and outcomes from earlier discussions 
• opportunities to ask questions, share local knowledge and provide feedback

Why get involved?

Community insight is a vital part of the Future Coast Charmouth project. By attending the drop-in session you can share your local knowledge, concerns and ideas and help shape a Plan that reflects the needs and priorities of the future community. 

Technical Reports

These reports provide background information and evidence that will help inform discussions at the upcoming workshops, where we will work together with the community to shape an Adaptation Plan focused on long-term resilience for future generations.

The reports also explain some of the work already undertaken and outline key updates and next steps for the project. We encourage community members to explore the documents ahead of the workshops to support informed and meaningful conversations. 

The reports are available on the Useful Links and Info section of our webpage. 

CoastSnap has arrived in Charmouth - Autumn 2025

In the last week a cradle and sign has been installed on Charmouth seafront as part of the CoastSnap project. 

Typically for most coastlines, there is limited observation data available to provide an understanding of the rates and magnitudes of shoreline response from storm events and longer-term underlying coastal processes. Recent advances in smartphone camera-lens technology allows untapped opportunities for shoreline monitoring using publically sourced imagery. Thousands of people visit our beaches every day, carrying camera devices more advanced than the technology used over the past several decades in coastal imaging. Hence, CoastSnap offers beach and coastal managers an insight into the continual erosion and recovery cycles along with long term changes occurring along our beaches, while also acting as an effective community engagement tool, encouraging members of the public to learn more about their beach and how they undergo change. 

The Charmouth CoastSnap has been recommissioned after its removal from West Bay's East Beach given that the SW Coast Path in that location has now shut. 

The data collected through CoastSnap will be used to evaluate change over time on the beach. It is the hope that this information may also be supported by a study from a Plymouth University Masters student.

Engagement Round 2 Report 

After collating the result of the baseline survey, quick polls and responses at our engagement events, we have summarised our findings in the following report. Engagement Round 2 Summary Report

Engagement Round 2 Spring - Summer 2025

Engagement Round 2 began with phase 1 of the delivery stage of the project with a 7 week long baseline survey period starting on 26th May giving the community the opportunity to have their say.  Events hosted by DCF provided an opportunity for the community to see the work that had continued behind the scenes since spring of 2024 and meet new additions to the project team.

2024 created strong links within the community and this continued into 2025 as we reconnected with local residents and stakeholders and raised awareness to people new to the project.

A Steering Group which will be an oversight committee that provides guidance and direction to the project has now been collated. This group will meet regularly to discuss the projects direction.

Community Engagement May to July 2025

Dorset Coast Forum hosted drop-in events and an online presentation, where the baseline understanding and findings were presented and members of the project team were available to answer questions and participants encouraged to complete the baseline survey. 

• Community Conversation
  Wednesday 18th June, 6-8.30pm at St Andrews Community Hall

• Online Conversation
  Tuesday 1st July, 6-7.15pm (recording here: Future Coast Charmouth Online Presentation 1st July 2025)

• Baseline on the Beach,
  Thursday 3rd July, 2-6pm, down at Charmouth seafront. 

• Charmouth Market
  Monday 7th July, 9am - 3pm 

We also made an appearance at the River Dragon Charmouth Festival on Saturday 31st May where we had paper copies of the baseline survey available and answered questions about the project.

Engagement Round 1 Spring - Summer 2024
During Round 1 of engagement, local communities and stakeholders provided us with a wealth of information and local knowledge on the area. The primary objective of this Round was to raise awareness of the project and collect preliminary data. The information provided will aid in creating a baseline scenario and will help the direction of the project going forward. Thank you to everyone who took part! 

A summary of the engagement can be found here: Engagement Round 1 Summary

Literature that was provided at the Community drop-in event on the 29th May 2024 can be found here: CTAP Community Information