Past Projects

Between 1970-2000 almost 2 million cubic metres of sand was used to replenish beaches at Bournemouth and Poole.  Between 2005-2008 the coastline benefited from another 1.8 million cubic metres of beach material.

The resulting wide beaches have been a success in terms of their function as a coast protection structure and for the enjoyment they provide to Bournemouth's residents and visitors.  Beach control structures will ensure they remain that way for as long as possible and a long-term programme of engineering works has been implemented by the local authorities.

Recent coast protection projects have been recorded in detail:

Poole & Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan Review (SMP2) 2009-2010 - links to the SMP2 partnership website, opens in a new window

The Poole & Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan Review is the first revision of the original Shoreline Management Plan (SMP1) produced in 1999.

Bournemouth Beach Top-up (BIS4.5) September 2010

A project to replenish a section of beach at Southbourne between Portman Ravine and Fisherman's Walk. The third and final of the Bournemouth beach top-ups.

Bournemouth Groyne Repair Works winter 2009/2010

A £1 million project to repair four of Bournemouth's groynes carried out between November 2009 - February 2010.

Five new rock groynes for Poole winter 2008/2009

In November 2008 work commenced on a £1.9 million, five month project to create five new rock groynes between Branksome Chine and Branksome Dene Chine.  Groyne construction was completed on 5th May 2009.

Bournemouth Beach Top-up (BIS4.4) March 2009

A project to replenish a small section of beach at Southbourne. The dredger Crestway delivered sand to the coast between 4th-21st March 2009.

Bournemouth Beach Top-up (BIS4.3) March 2008

A project to replenish a small section of beach between Boscombe & Southbourne. The dredger Oranje delivered sand to the coast between 8th-14th March 2008.

Bournemouth Beach Replenishment (BIS4.2) winter 2006/07

Follows the second phase of the scheme between Boscombe and Alum Chine in Bournemouth, with more than 800,000 m3 of beach material.

Poole Bay & Swanage Beach Replenishment winter 2005/06

The first of our project web sites tells how some 1.1 million cubic metres of material was dredged from Poole Harbour and used to replenish beaches at Swanage, Poole & Bournemouth (Hengistbury Head to Southbourne, BIS4.1*).

A report from Borough of Poole on various coast protection works carried out at Sandbanks to 2003 (PDF, file size 1.2MB)

* BIS - Bournemouth's beach replenishment projects are referred to as Beach Improvement Schemes; four such schemes have been carried out between 2005-2010.