Protecting Bournemouth's Coastline
Bournemouth Borough Council
Government
Bournemouth, UK
Flood and coastal risk management
The UK shoreline has been constantly changing for millions of years, sometimes gradually, sometimes dramatically, and these changes have created some of the coast’s most beautiful and important features. Over the next century the forecast is for more frequent storms, increasing wave heights and rainfall, and rising sea levels. All pose threats to the coastal environment and the livelihoods of the people who live and work in these areas.
In the past coastal defences were built to protect these communities, usually on an ad-hoc basis over relatively short lengths of coastline, and not always with understanding of the possible impact on other locations.
Since 1994 Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs), funded by the UK government, have provided a more strategic and sustainable approach to coastal defence – and Royal Haskoning has won many public tenders to develop and review these plans.
Between October 2008 and July 2010, Royal Haskoning worked with Bournemouth Borough Council to review the 1999 SMP, contributing its considerable knowledge of shoreline management to provide technical guidance and support to the Steering Committee. This included the Operating Authorities, namely, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole, New Forest and Purbeck, and the Environment Agency, and associate partners such as Natural England, National Trust, Dorset and Hampshire County Council, Poole Harbour Commissioners and English Heritage. The revised version was approved by Bournemouth’s Cabinet in June 2010.