Work to save seafront green from collapse put back

The seaside resort's green areas have been found to be unstable with work needed to prevent collapse

Work to stabilise large green spaces at a seaside resort to stop the area from collapsing has been delayed.

The ground off Shore Road at Sandpit Field, Weather Station Field and the beach hut area in Swanage, Dorset, has been found to be unstable due to ground movement.

The Swanage Green Seafront Scheme was originally expected to start in autumn 2026. Swanage Town Council said the work was now unlikely to begin before September 2027.

The seafront area where stone walls and pathways are visibly showing signs of stress and movement is being closely monitored, the authority added.

Cracks have appeared along walls as the ground movement on the seafront increases

The council said it had pushed back the date for the work to look at public feedback on the plans and make certain it had fully explored all funding options.

The authority said it was "mindful" that the area was continuing to deteriorate, and timescales would be kept under constant review "in case of any sudden change in ground stability".

If the proposed work starts in early autumn 2027 it is hoped it will be finished before the 2028 summer season.

The council said it expected to submit a full planning application for the project within the next 18 months.

Some areas have been closed to the public for safety reasons

The Green Seafront scheme has two options proposed to stabilise the area

The first, which Swanage Town Council calls the "essential option" costing an estimated £4.5m, would secure the ground movement, add more beach huts and revamp the toilets.

A second option would see a larger events space created, new toilets, a cafe, 46 more beach huts and new pathways costing an estimated £6.5m.

The council said it had £3.65m set aside to fund the works and planned to source the shortfall through external funding, a loan or grant funding.

Work to make any changes to Shore Road would be on top of the costs to stabilise the seafront.

Proposals include closing the road to traffic, making it one way and a no-parking zone, two-way with no parking, or leaving it as it is.