Portland Underhill to Wyke Regis Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Strategy

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Dorset Council, working in collaboration with partners, are developing a new Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Strategy for Portland Underhill to Wyke Regis. Once completed, the new strategy will define the long-term (100 year) sustainable, adaptable and integrated approach for implementing the Shoreline Management Plan policy for coastal flood and erosion risks.

As the project progresses, public consultation events will be available to keep the community informed and involved with opportunities to feedback during the various stages of the proposed strategy.



Dorset Council, working in collaboration with partners, are developing a new Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Strategy for Portland Underhill to Wyke Regis. Once completed, the new strategy will define the long-term (100 year) sustainable, adaptable and integrated approach for implementing the Shoreline Management Plan policy for coastal flood and erosion risks.

As the project progresses, public consultation events will be available to keep the community informed and involved with opportunities to feedback during the various stages of the proposed strategy.



  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Portland Underhill to Wyke Regis FCRM Strategy Survey

    We would like to hear your views, comments, and concerns regarding flooding and coastal issues in the area between Portland Underhill and Wyke Regis.

    Your responses to this survey will help shape the development of a new Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Strategy for the area. This project will identify where, when, and broadly what type of works are needed to protect this coastline from flooding and erosion.

    Round 1 engagement, which ran from October to November 2023, collected views from the public and stakeholders on the key geographical areas to be covered in the Strategy. Since then, the project team has been working to develop a baseline understanding for the Strategy. This has involved undertaking a number of assessments which provide a detailed understanding of the coastal risks facing the area. 

    For Round 2, the team are now keen to hear from you on whether you agree with the baseline findings and have any suggestions for how the coastal risks can be managed. 

    Thank you if you responded to the Round 2 survey. The survey closed on 27 April and the results are now being analysed to feed into the engagement feedback report.

    Thank you for your participation!

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  • Engagement Round 4 Survey - Proposed Short List of Options

    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:  


    1. Do Nothing (the baseline scenario). This option assumes no further interventions.   
    2. 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.  
    3. 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.  
    4. 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  

    This survey will close on Sunday 4th January 2026. 

    Take Survey
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Page last updated: 27 Nov 2025, 01:46 PM