FAQsv2

Sandpit Field is the one of the South Coast’s premier event fields attracting over 100,000 visitors per annum to Swanage. Events include Swanage Carnival, the largest carnival on the South Coast, Swanage Folk Festival one of the largest folk festivals in the country as well as the Jazz, Pirate and Fairy Festivals. Tourism is worth £73million to the Swanage local economy supporting 1,034 jobs within the town.   

Having a premier events space so close to the beach and the town is unique and is a key reason that visitors choose Swanage time and time again.  

The New Option

The new option would cost an estimated £6.5 million. The essential scheme would be an estimated £4.5 million. The Council still cannot fund all the costs of the essential or the new scheme and is continuing to look at funding options.

Key Features of the New Option:

• Filling in Walrond Road to make one large events field. This is also a cost-effective way to dispose of the spoil from the scheme and reduces the costs of moving spoil off site and disposing. This provides benefits both environmentally as well as economically.
• Accessibility improvements across the site.
• A new seafront concession on Shore Road.
• A new toilet block offering accessible toilets on Shore Road.
• Increased seating across the site.
• Planting schemes for wildlife and biodiversity.
• A larger events space across Sandpit and Weather Station Field.
• A smaller bookable event space for families and groups.
• Improvements and alterations to the Spa Beach Hut area including accessible beach bungalows, accessible toilets for spa area users, better use of space for all huts and an improved look and feel to the area.

The Essential Option

The Essential Option includes all stabilisation required to maintain the site in its current form.

Key Features of the Essential Option:

• This option would stabilise the area and retain Sandpit Field as an events field, whilst retaining current features of the fields with greenery and stone walls.
• Replacement of the planting on the beach side of the field to create an attractive, biodiverse area close to the sea.
• Additional beach huts will be provided on the Spa area, in a very similar orientation and style to those that were there previously.
• Some new seating across the site. 
• Battlegate toilets will be upgraded providing modern public conveniences that serve both the beach huts and the beach. Unfortunately it is not possible to include accessible toilets at Battlegate.

A draft timescale for commencement of construction works has been scheduled for Autumn 2026. This may however be impacted by a number of factors such as the design of the agreed scheme, planning requirements, a change in the rate of deterioration of the stability of the land and funding.   

By commencing works in early Autumn it is hoped that the construction can be completed before the 2027 summer season however this may be subject to change given weather conditions and other potential issues that may lead to delays. 

Extensive ground investigation and survey works have been ongoing and since 2020 active intrusive monitoring has been taking place. This includes:  

• several boreholes set up to 15m deep within the ground across the area enabling monthly recording of ground movement and water levels;  
• extensive topographical, LIDAR, utility and drainage surveys;  
• geological investigations;  
• hydrology and hydrogeology investigations;  
• geotechnical assessments;  
• routine defect inspections and the development of a site risk register;  
• historical land use investigations;  
• unexploded ordnance surveys.

In addition, digitisation of the WWII gun emplacement on Sandpit Field has been undertaken, landscape designs and costings have been produced and a draft project programme developed.

Following the outcome of the previous engagement where improving accessibility and safety on Shore Road was a key priority for Swanage residents. Swanage Town Council commissioned Dorset Council to undertake a feasibility study to look at options to achieve these objectives. The options included within this second round of engagement are a direct result of this stated preference from last time.  

Some of the following stabilisation measures may be utilised. Please note these are not final and may be adapted/changed dependent upon the option and final design. We are likely to end up with a combination of approaches to stabilising the green seafront. 

Soil nails and anchors around 15-20m long in places (large steel nails or anchors embedded in the ground that help stabilise the localised area)  

• Granular fill (essentially replacing soft and loose ground with compacted granular material which is more stable and allows better drainage of water) 
• Reinforcing some of the existing walls that are retaining the ground 
• Taking down some of the existing walls and rebuilding them (using the same stone wherever possible) with new and deeper foundations and adding new drainage beneath the surface of the ground retaining walls  
• Regrading of slopes (essentially making the slope less steep in places by removal of earth) and reinforcing them with a grid system buried in the ground 

Discussions have been held with the Meteorological Office regarding the impact of the stabilisation works on the Weather Station. This is also the location for 2 rain gauges that are monitored by the Environment Agency. Plans are in place for a temporary relocation of the Weather Station to the Recreation Ground whilst the works are ongoing, following which it would then be reinstated. 

Once the weather station has been returned to its original location there are plans to install information boards showing the history and purpose of the Swanage Weather Station.

The former WWII gun emplacement is located on the eastern edge of Sandpit Field and has been used as a seating area for many years. The ground on the eastern edge (seaward side) of the emplacement is a location where there is ongoing ground movement. The main part of the emplacement is beneath the ground and investigations have shown structural movement as a result of the ground conditions in some areas. 

Following discussions with relevant professionals the shelter will be required to be removed. The Council has already undertaken a 3D survey of the emplacement and it is proposed that in either of the schemes, a seating area is provided in a nearby location along with signage, photographs and interpretation showing the history and heritage of the emplacement and digital links to the 3D survey.  

To assess the health of the trees a full arboricultural survey has been undertaken to ascertain their viability and anticipated lifespan. The landscape design does not necessitate any tree removals, but the extent of ground stabilisation work may. Endeavours will be made to retain all trees of value and to mitigate any potential losses. 

Both designs will be subject to both arboricultural and ecological survey findings. These works have already been commissioned by the Council and are being undertaken in 2025. The design strategies may need to evolve to retain or translocate trees/planting of significant value. Any trees/planting that is required to be removed will be mitigated for, and steps taken to ensure biodiversity and environment net gains are achieved. In addition, the new scheme design incorporates the planting of many new trees as can be seen in the planting mood boards - view planting mood boards here

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. As part of the planning process the Council will need to achieve a BNG of at least 10% on the Green Seafront. This means that the development will result in a more or better-quality habitat than there was before development.  The Council has engaged ecologists to measure the biodiversity value of the existing habitat on the seafront and provide advice on how a BNG of at least 10% can be achieved in both schemes. 

For a number of years, the Council has worked closely with Swanage event organisers regarding the potential closure of Sandpit Field during any construction works. They have been asked to consider how they might use either Prince Albert Gardens or King Georges Playing Field for the construction period. It is clear that some events will be able to operate from Prince Albert Gardens during this time, although they may need to rationalise elements of their events. In addition, the Council is considering the timing of the works to minimise insofar as is possible, disruption over the summer season. The work is planned to take place over the winter period, so it is anticipated that the impact on events will be limited.

Whilst the works are ongoing Shore Road will be closed for most vehicles. This is necessary as the machinery for ground stabilisation needs to access the fields from the bottom of the slopes. Access along Shore Road will be retained for pedestrians, emergency and essential service vehicles.  

Both schemes would stabilise the area for at least 100 years.

Both schemes include an allowance for inflation based on construction commencing in Autumn 2026.  The scheme costs also include a contingency. 

Planning permission will be required for any scheme that is taken forward and the Council have entered into a Planning Performance Agreement with Dorset Council.  This will enable the Council to engage in preapplication discussions with key consultees enabling the early identification of issues thus reducing delays and uncertainty as well as leading to a more collaborative approach.

The proposed highway works do not require planning permission as are within the extent of existing highway. However, any changes to traffic regulation orders, such as speed limits, movement restrictions and parking restrictions, would require formal consultation and approval from Dorset Council.  

Over time there will be an increasing risk of a catastrophic ground movement. To give precise timescales or calculate the risk of this occurring at any given moment is not possible. What is evident however are the negative impacts of the ground movement that can be seen now and which will continue and increase in their impact upon the use of these spaces.    

On the eastern side of all areas the impact of soil creep upon structures is evident. This can be particularly seen on Sandpit Field where the rippling and sheering edge has resulted in safety signage being placed at the seaward edge and the removal of benches from many less stable locations. Paths, walls and other features in this location are visibly tilted and interventions have already taken place to level the tarmac paths. It is feasible that this soil creep will lead to the closing off for public safety of footpaths that enable access to Sandpit Field from Shore Road.  Changes in the surface of the field itself are also evident and significant depressions and undulations are visible and notably changing over time. The loss of this important event space to the town would have serious consequences for the local economy and a reduction in events is likely to lead to a reduction in visitor numbers.  

In Weather Station Field, the Spa beach hut area and Sandpit Field significant cracking to walls and the displacement of footpaths is evident throughout the spaces. At the corner of Weather Station Field and Shore Road, large cracks are clearly visible and fencing has been installed for safety reasons.  The stability of the wall of Weather Station Field as it borders Walrond Road has been highlighted as a risk and the Council has followed professional advice and installed a long length of fencing to close the footpath in this location for safety reasons. In addition, the Spa area wall at the back of the beach huts as it borders De Moulham Road has also been highlighted as a risk and fencing installed here for safety reasons. Footpaths leading to the Spa from Shore Road are noticeably tilted and have been filled with concrete on the landward side on several occasions. Numerous interim repairs have been undertaken for safety reasons to stone walls and footpaths across the location and this interim expenditure is likely to provide only temporary solutions as until stabilised, ground movement will continue.   

For the purpose of this engagement, options for Shore Road are displayed alongside the new option for the Green Seafront. This is simply to demonstrate the changes and not because of any decisions being made. There will be further consultations after this engagement and the schemes will be aligned based on the chosen options.

Improving accessibility and pedestrian safety was a key concern in previous engagements regardless of the stabilisation option. Highway options would be amended on the basis that Walrond Road remains in situ whilst still achieving pedestrian safety and accessibility improvements on Shore Road.

Swanage Town Council has been engaging with Dorset Council Parking Services regarding the potential removal of the parking bays on Shore Road and has not received any objections at this time. 

Facilitating sustainable, active modes of travel is a high priority for the Council. In all options proposed, two-way cycle access along Shore Road will remain. This will be achieved in different ways for each option, ranging from segregated cycle provision, to mixing with regular vehicular traffic.  In all options, cycling restrictions will be retained on the closed southern section of Shore Road.

In all the highways options that change the existing layout of the highway, it is proposed that parking be removed from the seafront.

Currently, it is proposed that the bus route be relocated on to De Moulham Road where necessary. This is still subject to further engagement with bus operators and no firm decision has been made. 

Currently, that are no proposed changes to the parking along De Moulham Road. As the design progresses, Dorset Council’s Parking Services will be engaged and they will determine if a review of the parking is required.

All options for Shore Road currently propose dedicated disabled parking provision near the beach on Victoria Avenue. This is with the exception of keeping things as they currently are. 

All options for the Shore Road improvements are estimated in the region of £1.5m – £2.0m. Further design work will be undertaken once a preferred option is identified and a robust cost estimate developed. As Shore Road will remain a highway asset, it will still be owned and maintained by Dorset Council as the Highway Authority. Currently, Dorset Council has provided £500k towards the project from its Local Transport Plan.

Physical changes to the southern section of Shore Road (between Victoria Avenue and the Mowlem) is outside of the scope of this project. All options have been designed to accommodate changes to this area with minimal work.

Arrangements for drop off and collection of private site beach huts have been considered for each option. The Council is aware that arrangements will need to be made to facilitate this.