Swanage Green Seafront Stabilisation & Enhancement Scheme

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Welcome to the homepage for the public consultation of the Swanage Green Seafront Stabilisation & Enhancement Scheme (Sandpit Field, Weather Station Field and the Spa beach hut area).

Watch here as the Mayor of Swanage Cllr Tina Foster & Dorset Coast Forum's James Mitchell introduce the scheme.


Initial public feedback required for two draft options for the stabilisation and enhancement of Swanage Green Seafront - this survey was live from 19th September to 31st October.

Recognising that essential stabilisation works take place to protect this vital community facility, Swanage Town Council asked for initial feedback on possible options that aim to stabilise and enhance the green seafront that runs parallel to Shore Road.

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and shared your views on the draft options for the stabilisation and enhancement of Swanage Green Seafront. Your responses are being collated into a report to be passed to Swanage Town Council.

At this stage, it is a listening exercise that aims to understand how the public feel about these possible options and this information will help inform the future scope of the essential stabilisation works.

Swanage Town Council have contracted engineers WSP to draft two options for the stabilisation of the green seafront. The draft options below present a baseline option and an enhanced option; the latter provides more public benefits but is more substantial in terms of scope & cost.

Background

Due to significant ground movement and slope instability, three areas in Swanage need to undergo essential ground stabilisation works. These include Sandpit Field, Weather Station Field, and the ‘Spa’ beach hut area.

Significant stabilisation works were undertaken by Swanage Town Council In 2013/14 to stabilise the Recreation Ground. This scheme provided new beach huts and enhancements to this location such as new public toilets and showers.

The area north of this, specifically Sandpit and Weather Station Fields and the Spa Beach hut area, is also experiencing extensive ground movement and slope instability

This land has been monitored over recent years to determine the nature and impact of the ground instability. Evidence of the ground movement is visible if you visit the areas concerned – which show large areas of uneven ground and significant cracks in both retaining walls and in the footpaths. The Spa public conveniences and surrounding paths were closed to the public in 2018 due to ground movement. Swanage Town Council are now monitoring over 40 'defects'.

Whilst it is not possible to determine when a significant ground movement may occur, as this depends on a wide range of factors, there are consequences of inaction, e.g. risks of increased dereliction and costs of temporary/emergency works. Therefore, the essential stabilisation works are currently scheduled for 2025/2026 and there may be an opportunity - as presented in the Swanage Seafront Masterplan - to significantly enhance these areas, whilst retaining them as a premier events field and key green space. This would ultimately be dependent upon funding.

Read the FAQs for more information

Option One: Essential Scheme

This option would stabilise the area and retain Sandpit Field as a large events field for future generations whilst retaining current features of the fields with greenery and stone walls.

Read about Option One here

Option Two: Enhanced Scheme

This option would stabilise and significantly enhance the area with the notable filling in and conversion of Walrond Road to create more green space linking up the sections of the Green Seafront. This option offers numerous public realm improvements including increased accessibility, biodiversity and enhanced event space but is significantly more costly than the essential scheme.

Read about Option Two here


Further Considerations & Finance

Read about further considerations & finance here



Welcome to the homepage for the public consultation of the Swanage Green Seafront Stabilisation & Enhancement Scheme (Sandpit Field, Weather Station Field and the Spa beach hut area).

Watch here as the Mayor of Swanage Cllr Tina Foster & Dorset Coast Forum's James Mitchell introduce the scheme.


Initial public feedback required for two draft options for the stabilisation and enhancement of Swanage Green Seafront - this survey was live from 19th September to 31st October.

Recognising that essential stabilisation works take place to protect this vital community facility, Swanage Town Council asked for initial feedback on possible options that aim to stabilise and enhance the green seafront that runs parallel to Shore Road.

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and shared your views on the draft options for the stabilisation and enhancement of Swanage Green Seafront. Your responses are being collated into a report to be passed to Swanage Town Council.

At this stage, it is a listening exercise that aims to understand how the public feel about these possible options and this information will help inform the future scope of the essential stabilisation works.

Swanage Town Council have contracted engineers WSP to draft two options for the stabilisation of the green seafront. The draft options below present a baseline option and an enhanced option; the latter provides more public benefits but is more substantial in terms of scope & cost.

Background

Due to significant ground movement and slope instability, three areas in Swanage need to undergo essential ground stabilisation works. These include Sandpit Field, Weather Station Field, and the ‘Spa’ beach hut area.

Significant stabilisation works were undertaken by Swanage Town Council In 2013/14 to stabilise the Recreation Ground. This scheme provided new beach huts and enhancements to this location such as new public toilets and showers.

The area north of this, specifically Sandpit and Weather Station Fields and the Spa Beach hut area, is also experiencing extensive ground movement and slope instability

This land has been monitored over recent years to determine the nature and impact of the ground instability. Evidence of the ground movement is visible if you visit the areas concerned – which show large areas of uneven ground and significant cracks in both retaining walls and in the footpaths. The Spa public conveniences and surrounding paths were closed to the public in 2018 due to ground movement. Swanage Town Council are now monitoring over 40 'defects'.

Whilst it is not possible to determine when a significant ground movement may occur, as this depends on a wide range of factors, there are consequences of inaction, e.g. risks of increased dereliction and costs of temporary/emergency works. Therefore, the essential stabilisation works are currently scheduled for 2025/2026 and there may be an opportunity - as presented in the Swanage Seafront Masterplan - to significantly enhance these areas, whilst retaining them as a premier events field and key green space. This would ultimately be dependent upon funding.

Read the FAQs for more information

Option One: Essential Scheme

This option would stabilise the area and retain Sandpit Field as a large events field for future generations whilst retaining current features of the fields with greenery and stone walls.

Read about Option One here

Option Two: Enhanced Scheme

This option would stabilise and significantly enhance the area with the notable filling in and conversion of Walrond Road to create more green space linking up the sections of the Green Seafront. This option offers numerous public realm improvements including increased accessibility, biodiversity and enhanced event space but is significantly more costly than the essential scheme.

Read about Option Two here


Further Considerations & Finance

Read about further considerations & finance here



  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Swanage Green Seafront Stabilisation and Enhancement Survey

    This survey is designed to give you an opportunity to have your say on the draft proposals for the stabilisation and enhancement of Sandpit Field, Weather Station Field and the Spa beach hut area. The information you provide will help guide the Town Council in its decision making over the two options that have been designed. 

    Before completing the survey, please ensure you have read through the two draft options - Option One & Option Two and the Further Considerations & Finance information. 

    Paper copies of the survey are available in the Swanage Information Centre and at consultation events. 

    This survey will close on the 31st October at 5pm.




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Page last updated: 04 Dec 2023, 11:08 AM