Project updates
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
- information on the Future Coast Charmouth Adaptation Plan
- a short presentation on Adaptation Plans. You can view the presentation slides here and a recording of the presentation here: https://youtu.be/CaDuEKcFvAk?si=flac90WTsv79qHhF
- displays showing emerging ideas and outcomes from earlier discussions which you can view here
- opportunities to ask questions, share local knowledge and provide feedback
Community Conversation
Wednesday 18th June, 6-8.30pm at St Andrews Community HallOnline 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
Project updates
October 2026
Improvements to beach access steps
Starting on Monday 2nd November and lasting for approximately 4 weeks, Dorset Council will be replacing the existing beach access steps in front of the Old Cement Factory building at West Beach, Charmouth.
The timing of works may vary depending on tides, sea conditions and weather. During construction, contractors will establish a temporary site compound and welfare facilities in the gravel section of the Foreshore car park. Appropriate safety measures and signage will be in place throughout the project.
The project is being funded through the project.
Improving access to West Beach has consistently been identified as a community priority. During public engagement in 2024, improved beach access was ranked as the second most popular option from a list of 15 potential projects, based on responses from 85 participants. Feedback highlighted the importance of maintaining convenient access to the beach for residents, visitors and local businesses, helping Charmouth remain an attractive destination alongside other coastal locations in the area.
Further engagement undertaken during 2025 reinforced the importance of maintaining access to West Beach. In response, the Future Coast Charmouth project has chosen to retain beach access in its current location and replace the ageing structure with a modern design built to current standards. This will help to maintain safe access while providing valuable time for the community and local authorities to continue planning for longer-term adaptation to coastal change. This may include future changes to infrastructure locations and consideration of alternative access arrangements as the coastline evolves.
Although the replacement steps themselves are not a new or innovative engineering solution, the project team explored a range of alternative options before selecting the preferred approach. Several more innovative access solutions were investigated but were ultimately not progressed due to environmental constraints, funding timescales and delivery risks.
One option initially considered, was a large beach access ramp, previously designed by West Dorset District Council. However, detailed assessment concluded that the ramp was unlikely to be deliverable within the available programme. This would involve a complex marine construction project with an estimated delivery programme of around 19 months, together with extensive consenting and licensing requirements.
The ramp option was also estimated to cost more than £2 million and would not have resolved the ongoing deterioration of the wider seawall. As the lifespan of the ramp would depend on the long-term condition of that seawall, the proposal was not considered to represent good value for money as a transitional adaptation measure.
The replacement steps therefore provide a practical and affordable solution that will allow residents and visitors to continue accessing West Beach safely while longer-term adaptation plans for Charmouth seafront are developed through the programme.
Further information on options for beach access along West Beach can be found in the Technical Reports, produced by project consultants, Jacobs.
Rollback of the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
Dorset Council Cabinet has approved the transfer of Future Coast Dorset funding to Charmouth Parish Council to support the potential acquisition of Hensleigh House as a future relocation property for the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre (CHCC). The funding would only be transferred if the purchase successfully proceeds. If completed, this would help ensure this much-loved education, visitor and community facility can continue serving residents and visitors for years to come.
Should the acquisition proceed, it would become one of the country's first proactive coastal rollback schemes, taking action in advance of future coastal change rather than responding after a building is already under immediate threat.
There are no immediate plans to relocate the CHCC. Securing a potential future site is a proactive step to ensure options are available as coastal erosion risks increase over time, with any future relocation expected to be phased and responsive to need.
Main operations would remain at the existing CHCC site for the foreseeable future, while a new site could provide additional space for classroom and education activities. The Parish Council would own and maintain the property, ensuring the asset is rooted in the local community.
If the acquisition is completed, Dorset Council will work with the Parish Council and partners to finalise the necessary arrangements and next steps.
October 2026
Since the start of the Future Coast Charmouth project, we have received a number of enquiries and comments from the community about whether the existing rock armour in front of the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre could be extended using Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) funding. While CTAP funding cannot be used to construct, extend or modify traditional coastal defences such as rock armour, these discussions highlighted a wider interest in understanding whether a scheme could be delivered independently of public funding. Therefore, the project team have produced the following document to provide the Charmouth community with clear, evidence-based information on the likely costs, feasibility, risks, environmental implications and regulatory requirements of a community-led rock armour scheme, helping to inform future discussions about whether such an approach could be pursued.
Community Led Rock Armour
Summary of Community Led Rock Armour
July 2026
There has been positive progress across several high-priority project delivery options. The project team is working closely with the Environment Agency and Charmouth Parish Council on an opportunity to secure a property that could become the future home of the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre (CHCC).
Engineers are currently developing a design for new steel beach access steps to replace the existing steps in front of the CHCC. At the same time, a contractor is being procured to deliver Property Flood Resilience (PFR) improvements to the Old Cement Factory building. These works will include the installation of flood doors and other measures to help future-proof the building against increased flood risk.
The first round of consultation on the Adaptation Plan has now been completed. Project consultants, Jacobs, are currently finalising the documents ahead of a second round of public consultation, which is expected to take place online in the autumn.
Further community engagement activities are planned throughout the summer and autumn, and updates will be provided on this webpage.
April 2026 - Mid Programme Update
As the project reaches its midway point, we have produced a Mid‑Programme Update. This report sets out the current status of each delivery option using our traffic‑light system—making it clear which elements are on track, which require more work, and which options are no longer feasible.
Adaptation Plan and Community Drop-Ins - Spring 2026
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:
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 took place in Charmouth on 5th February 2026, giving everyone the opportunity to learn more about Adaptation Plans and share their views.
The drop-in session included:
Face2Faces
Following the community drop in on February 5th, members of the project team visited Charmouth Community Library five times in mid-March to allow further conversations around the Adaptation Plan and other aspects of the project delivery.
All of the community feedback is now being amalgamated and will be developed into Adaptation Pathways. These will be shared with the community when ready.
Technical Reports
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 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
