Swanage seafront is the focus of a multi-million-pound programme intended to stabilise vulnerable public land, protect important open spaces and improve one of the town’s main visitor areas.
The work brings together two linked schemes: Swanage Town Council’s Green Seafront Stabilisation and Enhancement Scheme and Dorset Council’s proposed improvements to Shore Road.
Together they are expected to amount to about £9.4 million.
Why is the work being proposed?
The central issue is ground movement and slope instability affecting the Green Seafront, including Sandpit Field, Weather Station Field and the Spa beach hut area. The town council says the scheme is needed to protect public access and secure the long-term future of land used by residents, visitors and community events.
At Dorset Council’s Cabinet meeting, Swanage representatives described the work as a major opportunity for the town and warned that parts of the seafront could be at risk if the problem is not addressed.
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What does the Green Seafront scheme include?
The preferred scheme includes ground stabilisation, replacement planting, improved access, a new plaza and seating area, and new beach huts.
Planning documents also refer to the stopping up and infilling of Walrond Road to create a continuous green space, as well as new pedestrian and emergency vehicle access points.
The proposals have also prompted debate because they include the demolition of a Second World War gun emplacement/searchlight position on Sandpit Field.
Supporters of the wider scheme argue the work is needed for engineering and safety reasons, while campaigners say the wartime structure should be retained as part of Swanage’s heritage.
What is planned for Shore Road?
Dorset Council’s separate Shore Road project is intended to improve the seafront highway environment. The package includes wider pavements, pedestrian crossings, traffic calming and accessibility improvements, with the aim of creating a safer and more attractive route for residents and visitors.
The council says the two schemes are connected because the seafront land, public spaces and Shore Road all form part of the same visitor and community area.
How much will it cost?
The Green Seafront Stabilisation and Enhancement Scheme is estimated at £6.9 million. Swanage Town Council had already assembled around £4.4 million towards the project, but Dorset Council has agreed a £2.5 million grant to help close the remaining funding gap.
Dorset Council has also allocated £2.5 million for Shore Road improvements, made up of a new £2 million allocation and £500,000 already committed. That gives a combined programme value of approximately £9.4 million.
When could work happen?
The project is expected to move through detailed design, planning and procurement during 2026 and 2027. Construction is currently anticipated to begin from early autumn 2027, with the aim of completing the works before the 2028 summer season.
Why does it matter?
Swanage’s seafront is one of the town’s most important public spaces, used for recreation, tourism and community events. Dorset Council has said tourism in Swanage is worth around £77 million a year to the local economy and supports more than 1,000 jobs.
The scheme is therefore being promoted not just as an engineering project, but as a long-term investment in the town’s seafront, visitor economy and public realm.
However, the heritage concerns over the wartime structure mean the project is also likely to remain the subject of local debate as it moves through planning and delivery.
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