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Introduction
This fourth round of engagement for the Portland Underhill to Wyke Regis FCRM Strategy is asking for your views on our short list of proposed measures for managing coastal flood and erosion risk across the strategy area. Once we have your feedback, the preferred measures will be further appraised to ensure they are technically, economically and environmentally viable. Our phased approach aims to deliver the Strategy by Spring/Summer 2027.
To date, we have gathered information, research and technical data along with public and stakeholder views to first understand what happens if we do nothing to defend our coast and then produce a long list of potential coastal risk management measures to do something to ensure our coastal communities are more resilient to flooding, erosion and the impacts of climate change over the next 100 years.
You can find all our technical reports and engagement feedback on the project Have Your Say webpage: Portland Underhill to Wyke Regis Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Strategy | Dorset Coast Have Your Say
The Strategy area includes the south-eastern end of Chesil Beach, the coastal frontage of Wyke Regis on the mainland, the exposed open coast frontage of Chiswell and the sheltered coastal frontage between Castletown and Ferry Bridge in Portland Harbour (see Figure 1).
Location and extent of the Strategy Area (Dorset Council, 2023). To facilitate the option development and appraisal process, the Strategy area has been divided into smaller areas. This is an integral step in the option development and appraisal process to account for factors such as changes in land use, ownership, existing coastal defences, environmental characteristics and flood and erosion risks which vary significantly along the Strategy frontage.
Two tiers of spatial division have been applied; Option Development Units (ODUs) and Strategy Management Zones (SMZs):
Option Development Units (ODUs) are small scale manageable areas of the frontage with consistent characteristics and risks. Local level option development and appraisal is being carried out for each ODU during the development of the Strategy, considering different management approaches / intents and types of defence measures.
Strategy Management Zones (SMZs) are larger areas of the Strategy frontage comprised of groups of ODUs. Each SMZ includes ODUs that have similar strategic themes which provides opportunities for joined up and cohesive management of the coastal flood and erosion risks.
Location of Strategy Management Zones (SMZs) and Option Development Units (ODUs) with the Strategy Area (AECOM, 2025). The Strategy options are being developed and appraised for a 100-year period, between 2025 and 2125. The flooding and erosion risks change over time and therefore the options will consider different interventions through time. To facilitate this, three time scales have been identified for the option development and appraisal period: Short term – between 2025 and 2045.
Medium term – between 2045 and 2075
Long term – between 2075 and 2125.
Identifying coastal risk management measures
The long list options in each ODU comprise several ‘strategic options’. These strategic options outline the FCRM intent of the proposed interventions over the next 100 years. The Strategy is a classified as a ‘complex change’ project in the national appraisal guidance for flood and coastal risk management, and therefore as a minimum it has considered the following strategic options in the long list:
- Do Nothing (the baseline scenario). This option assumes no further interventions.
- Do Minimum. This option represents the least cost, realistic service if no other options are available (e.g. existing maintenance arrangements / small scale patch repairs). With this approach there would be an increased risk of defences failing over time and also a reduction in the standard of protection as it will not, for example, include raising of defences as sea levels rise. As such, within this option measures to adapt to the increased risk including changing land use or installing property level resilience may also be considered.
- Sustain: Options that sustain the current standard of protection. These options can include both maintenance and capital activities but no improvements. In the longer term these options will result in an increase in flood risk from effects such as climate change. As such, within this option measures to adapt to the increased risk including changing land use or installing property level resilience may also be considered.
- Improve: Options with higher standards of protection. These options will result in reduced risk and could achieve this to varying extents. For example, the option could involve raising defences over time so that the existing standard of protection is retained and keeps pace with sea level rise, or it could involve delivering a higher standard of protection than the existing defences.
In addition, options between the improve option, the sustain option and the do minimum have also been considered in some locations within the Strategy frontage. For example, an Adapt option that could involve relocating key infrastructure or assets to lower risk areas.
You can find out more about our appraisal process and how we short listed here: Useful links & info | Portland Underhill to Wyke Regis Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Strategy | Dorset Coast Have Your Say
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