Project Overview

Why now and why do we need to do something different?

Dorset's coastline is constantly evolving. The cliffs, beaches, and landscapes we love are shaped by the sea, and are therefore impacted by natural processes such as coastal erosion.

In some places, this change is happening faster than before. This is due to the impacts of climate change bringing rising sea levels and increased storminess along the coast. In North Swanage and Charmouth, this change may have an impact on homes, local businesses, and community assets.

Thanks to the Environment Agency's Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (also known as CTAP), Dorset Council has been awarded funding to launch 'Future Coast Dorset'. 

Future Coast Dorset, is two projects -Future Coast Charmouth and Future Coast North Swanage. These projects will involve working with local communities to help plan for the future and adapt to the changing coastline. 

Future Coast Dorset is about looking at practical solutions, testing new ideas and building a better understanding of how to manage the change that is taking place, so that we can all adapt to our changing coastline together. 

In Swanage and Charmouth, there are areas where sea defences cannot be maintained in the longer term because it is not sustainable or effective to keep doing so. In these areas, natural coastal processes will be allowed to take place instead. The Future Coast Dorset project is about helping communities in these areas, prepare for, and adapt to, natural changes happening along the coasts. 

The Future Coast Dorset project is also about planning ahead. It's important to start now, to ensure that communities can adapt and thrive in the future. The outcomes and learning from this project will also help key decision makers make informed decisions to support communities, ultimately ensuring that they remain resilient, thriving and safe.