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 project have been recorded in detail:

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 Improvement Scheme (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 Improvement Scheme (BIS4.3) winter 2007/08

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; the current project (BIS4) is phased, and is the fourth scheme in recent years [more]