FAQs

The Dorset Council FCERM team and Jacobs are working on an outline business case (OBC) for the project at Chesil Cove. This means all designs and proposals are conceptual and nothing is confirmed to happen right now. 

Any designs created are for the purpose of the OBC and are therefore subject to change as the project develops. The Environment Agency has a set of parameters which any projects must fit to in order to achieve approval of the OBC. This includes a solution having a proposed 100 year lifespan. This is why designs include hard engineering and use of certain materials. 

This consultation enables us to seek the views of the community and stakeholders ahead of the OBC being submitted and ahead of any real designs being made. Once the OBC is approved, funding can be sought for the project and further consultations will take place to make a plan for Chesil Cove. 

Access to the beach and promenade will be limited during the works period but after would be open to the public once again. The new rock apron will consist of large rocks and will therefore limit access to a small area of the beach. In the longer term this may change as a shingle layer forms over the rock. 

Access steps at the end of the promenade installed as part of the 2011 augmentation works, will be removed whilst the steps at Quiddles café will remain. However we would like to hear views from local residents and visitors how this impacts them and discuss potential alternatives.

Initially the rock apron would be visible on the beach, but it is anticipated that eventually shingle will deposit over some of the rocks. 

Local Portland Stone is not suitable for this project as it is too soft and porous for the wave impact. Stronger granite rock will need to be sourced from further afield. Normandy, Scotland and Norway are potential options. 

The Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Environment Agency asks for a 100 year solution. Granite is strong enough to satisfy this condition and is therefore suggested by designers. Portland Stone is deemed too soft for this due to the wave action at Chesil Cove and so cannot be included in the proposal for the OBC. Also, the erosion environment is far harsher at Chesil Cove than near the breakwaters and modern building standards - that we need to comply with - are quite different from what they were in 1880 when they were built.

The size of rock apron is appropriate to take the wave impact before it reaches the sea wall. It will also protect the underground sections of the defence. 

A revetment of this scale is also required to satisfy the Environment Agency's OBC parameters where any design created must be a 100 year solution.

The sea has aggressively attacked the southern end of the wall and undermined it. 

Monitoring over many years has also shown that the sea has also removed the layer of clay the wall sits upon. Therefore protection is needed at the toe of the wall to prevent further movement of the landslide system it supports. 

At this stage in the scheme a Preliminary Environmental Information Report has been prepared that identifies and considers the potential environmental receptors that could be affected by the construction and operation of the Scheme.

 The Preliminary Environmental assessment:

• Identifies baseline environmental conditions that may be impacted by the Scheme and records the conclusions of surveys undertaken to date;
• Identifies where there is potential risk to the environment or environmental opportunities to be realised as a result of the Scheme; and
• Identifies further actions and next steps in the Scheme’s development with regards to environmental assessment and consenting.

Next steps and ongoing work include consultation with Natural England and further environmental assessment and survey in parallel with the detailed design of the Scheme, preparation of an Environmental Report / Environmental Statement and Environmental Action Plan to present the results of further environmental assessment and capture agreed mitigation and enhancement measures.

We are working with the Jurassic Coast Trust to limit the impact on the World Heritage site and all appropriate surveys and investigations will be carried out beforehand.

The consultants working on this project are experienced and qualified in terms of coastal change modelling and developing technical options for coastal defence. There is a robust procedure in place when choosing final technical options. The options are then outlined in detail in the Outline Business Case, which is reviewed by the Environment Agency before funding is approved.

It is likely that large barges will be used to move the rocks close to the shoreline and deposit them in the shallow waters. Land based machinery will then manoeuvre them into place forming the rock apron. A similar method was recently undertaken in Bournemouth Bay to replace the Hengistbury Head Long Groyne. 

We are not yet at detailed design stage, but it should not be more than about 6 months. After this point there will be more information to build a timeline and move forward to the next stages. Works may not actually start at the site until 2026 or 2027. 

For the full duration of the works. We cannot put a specific time on this currently and will update business and the community once we know. 

There will still be a public promenade on the sea wall after the works have been completed as this has been incorporated into the design. 

Yes, access will be available once the works are completed. 

All impacts from the works will be communicated nearer the time. We want to talk to businesses to gain their feedback and aim to minimise disruption where possible. it is hoped that local businesses will feed into the design process. 

Should the project reach design stage, the aim is to make public realm and landscaping part of it. 

In the survey you will find a question asking about such improvements so that we can see what the respondents would like and consider them in the designs going forward.

The team has investigated rerouting the road and it will cost circa £50m. At the moment that is not considered a feasible option.

The team have considered off shore wave attenuation options made from rock, but they are cost prohibitive and environmentally unacceptable.

They are looking at alternative solutions but it is possible some repairs would still be needed at the seawall.