Shore Road Updates
- reducing the speed limit of Shore Road to 20mph
- relocating key crossings
- introducing high‑quality materials
- reducing street clutter
- adding new pick‑up and drop‑off points
- improving accessibility through dedicated disabled parking
- Consultation report published – January 2026
- Preferred option announced – February 2026
- Preliminary design and updated costs – late summer 2026
- Formal consultation and legal orders – autumn/winter 2026
- Detailed design – summer 2027
- Construction (aligned with Green Seafront project) – September 2027 to April 2028
- Drop in events
- Pop ups at the market and outside the Co-op
- Attending local community events and meetings
- Banners on Shore Road and Victoria Road – displayed for the duration of the engagement
- Posters around the Green Seafront Site and around the town
- Local radio – Interview with Maggi on Purbeck Radio
- News articles – Swanage News, Dorset Echo, Bournemouth Echo, BBC
- Posters, information, reference materials and paper surveys at the Visitor Information Centre
- Social Media - Dorset Coast Forum, Swanage Town Council, Dorset Council
- Option 1 – Full vehicular closure to public vehicles
- Option 2 – One way closure – south bound traffic only
- Option 3 – Two way traffic with parking removed
- Option 4 – Do nothing (retain as it is)
Update - March 2026 - Shore Road - Next Steps
A series of design refinements will now be explored including:
Dorset Council will also assess related improvements on the wider highway network, such as junction visibility, pedestrian crossing points and updated wayfinding.
Timeline
All dates provided are indicative and subject to change. To reduce impact on the highway, works will be aligned with the Green Seafront Ground Stabilisation project construction period. This means the start date of construction works will depend on the final confirmed timelines for the Green Seafront project.
Update 20/02/2026
An update from Dorset Council regarding the options for Shore Road can be found >> here
Shore Road Engagement Report
he Engagement Summary for Shore Road can be found >> here
The report represents the next step in a process that began with feedback from local residents in 2022/23, who highlighted the need to improve pedestrian safety and enhance the public realm during the development of the Swanage Masterplan.
Dorset Council, as the highway authority, is now reviewing elements of the engagement results that relate to Shore Road from the engagement held last year, alongside technical data. Their preferred option for Shore Road will be discussed publicly at the Town Council meeting on 23 February.
Any option taken forward by Dorset Council will require further technical work, funding decisions, and detailed design.
Engagement 2025
Over May and June 2025 many engagement events took place in Swanage. These included:
 Swanage Market |  Co-op Pop Up |  Mowlem Theatre Drop In
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Finance and Funding
Shore Road pedestrian safety improvements
Dorset Council has funded all of the design works and will contribute to the cost of the highway works. This contribution of £500,000 is not sufficient to complete any of the options and the Town Council does not have any funds available to meet any shortfall. Again, sources of external funding are being actively sought.
Shore Road Options 2025
Highways Scheme - Shore Road Options
Improvements to traffic management, along with matters regarding pedestrian safety on Shore Road were raised by the public in previous engagements for both the Green Seafront and the Swanage Seafront Masterplan. In response to this Dorset Council Highways Team has worked in partnership with Swanage Town Council and provided four options for the future of Shore Road:.
Click on the tiles below to see the images of the proposed options. Please note, for the purpose of this engagement, options for Shore Road are displayed alongside the new option for the Green Seafront. There will be further consultations after this engagement and the schemes will be aligned based on the chosen options.
Option 1: Full vehicular closure to public vehicles | Option 2: One-way closure - south bound traffic only |
Option 3: Two-way traffic with parking removed | Option 4: Do nothing (retain as it is) |
Shore Road - Introduction
The Shore Road Enhancements Project was developed in response to concerns raised by the community during public engagement on the first two options for the Green Seafront Stabilisation Scheme in 2023, as well as through consultation on the Swanage Masterplan.
While residents and visitors supported the need to address the instability of the Green Seafront, many also highlighted safety concerns for pedestrians on the northern section of Shore Road and the opportunity to consider wider traffic management improvements alongside such a significant investment in the area.
In response to this feedback, Swanage Town Council asked Dorset Council to explore options for improving Shore Road. This work evolved into the Shore Road Enhancements Project, which aims to create a safer, more accessible, and more attractive seafront environment for everyone who uses it.
The project is being developed alongside the Green Seafront Stabilisation Scheme, providing an opportunity to consider how pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, public transport users, residents, businesses, and visitors can better share and enjoy this important part of Swanage's seafront.