The strategy is our plan to manage tidal flood and erosion risks around Bournemouth, the whole of Poole Harbour, Wareham and Swanage over the next 100 years.
It will recommend the best ways to protect people, property and the environment from future sea level rise in the short, medium and long term. We are producing it in partnership with the local authorities of Bournemouth, Poole, Purbeck and Dorset County and other local partners such as Poole Harbour Commissioners, Natural England and the National Trust.
We held our first public exhibitions on the strategy back in March 2011 where we explained how the strategy would be developed and described the flood and erosion risk around the bays and harbour now and in the future.
Latest news
Public consultation on the Strategy began on 18 February and runs until 1 April 2013.
You can view and respond to the consultation online or you can send us your views in writing.
If you are responding in writing, completed questionnaires should be sent to:
Poole and Wareham Strategy
c/o Neil Watson
Environment Agency
Rivers House
Sunrise Business Park
Blandford DT11 8ST
The deadline for comments is 5pm Monday 1 April 2013.
Find out more at one of our drop-in sessions
- Thursday 28 February 2013 1pm - 5pm, Dolphin Shopping Centre, Poole
- Friday 1 March 2013 1pm – 6pm, All Saints Church Hall, Swanage
- Friday 8 March 2013 1pm – 6pm, Corn Exchange, Wareham
- Tuesday 12 March 2013 1pm - 6pm, The Lighthouse, Poole
Background information
A copy of the 2011 exhibition boards, maps and the feedback form can be found here:
- Exhibition boards, March 2011 (PDF, 818KB)
- Durlston Head to Wareham (PDF, 1MB)
- Poole to Hengistbury Head (PDF, 589KB)
- Fact Sheet – The Poole and Wareham Strategy (PDF, 396KB)
- Fact Sheet – Coastal Management, a quick guide to who does what (PDF, 237KB)
- Fact Sheet – Rising Sea Levels, Poole Harbour (PDF, 311KB)
- Fact Sheet – Baseline Studies for the Strategy (PDF, 337KB)
- Fact Sheet – High Level Options Assessment (PDF, 302KB)
- Fact Sheet – What is ’Living with a Changing Coast’ (PDF, 411KB)
What is the strategy?
Flood risk and erosion management planning is undertaken at a range of scales. At the broadest level Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) set the policy context for flood risk and erosion planning over large areas.
Flood and Coastal Risk Management Strategies (FCRMS) form part of the next tier of planning. They identify and assess measures for the eventual implementation of the policies identified within the SMP.
The Stratgy falls within the study area for the Poole and Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan Review. This SMP public consultation closed in February 2010 and the final report was approved in August 2011. Our strategy will develop the policies identified by the SMP Review into plans which detail flood and erosion risk management solutions at each problem area. This will include possible managed realignment.
Once it is completed and approved, the strategy will guide much of the flood, coast, beach and wildlife habitat protection work that we and the local authorities do in this area in the future.
The study area covers the length of the coast from the eastern end of Hengistbury Head to Durlston Head. It includes Bournemouth, the whole of Poole Harbour, Wareham and Swanage.
Our strategy has three main objectives:
- to define and agree a 100 year plan of investment for tidal flood and coastal erosion risk management by the Environment Agency and local authorities to protect local communities;
- to identify and prioritise other flood risk management activities such as providing advice to utility companies to protect important infrastructure, providing advice to planning authorities to control development in inappropriate areas, and investment in flood warning;
- to decide where we should create new inter-tidal wildlife habitats to compensate for losses of habitat caused by rising sea levels.
In meeting these objectives we will take into consideration the impact on people and the environment around Poole Harbour and the coast, including the cost of implementing any measures.
Programme
Some important dates are listed below:
Autumn 2010: We collected data and identified current and future flood and erosion risks. We also identified the possible extent of any environmental impacts.
2011: We undertook baseline studies using the data that we had collected. These looked rigorously at the policies that were developed in the Shoreline Management Plan and confirm that action is needed to manage the risks of flooding and coastal erosion. We also reviewed our findings against the latest guidance for adapting to climate change.
Spring 2012: We looked at the high level options for managing flood and coastal erosion risks around the estuary. We also undertook our Strategic Environmental Assessment which considers what impacts the Strategy might have.
Summer/Autumn 2012: We developed the high level options into draft proposals. These indicate what kind of measures will be needed, where and when.
Winter 2012: We drew together all our findings and recommendations into the draft Strategy
January 2012: We held a stakeholder event with elected members, parish and town councils and other local organisations to share the recommendations and get their views on how best to involve local people in the forthcoming public consultation.
Spring/Summer 2013: We will seek local, and then national approval for the Strategy.
Further Information
Find out more about coastal change and how you can adapt to it
Local knowledge and experience is important to help us shape the future management of flood risk and coastal erosion in the Strategy area. The Living with a Changing Coast (LiCCo) project is working in and around the Poole Harbour area to raise awareness of coastal change (sea level rise, flooding and erosion) to local communities and to help them adapt to this change.
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