Despite the promise of construction of permanent flood defences for Swanage in Dorset starting in September 2025, the town centre will once again have to rely on the temporary fix over winter for at least another two years.
The makeshift concrete blocks which protect homes and businesses near the seafront from flooding over the stormy months, will again be craned into position over four days from Tuesday 23rd September 2025.
The lower High Street will be closed while the blocks are craned into position
Bid for government funding
Dorset Council is leading on a scheme to protect and mitigate tidal flood risk along the lower High Street, at The Square, and on Shore Road by The Mowlem slipway.
However an outline business case still needs to be developed and submitted to the Environment Agency in order to bid for government funding.
A public consultation on what the scheme could entail was scheduled to take place in autumn 2024 but never materialised.
Even if the money is found to fund this essential scheme, it will still take time to design an effective but visually appealing flood barrier and receive planning permission.
Construction of the Swanage scheme is currently pencilled in to start in September 2027.
A permanent solution could involve building attractive seating along the seafront which doubles as a fixed storm barrier, but residents will be consulted on any final design before being implemented.
Putting the blocks in place for the winter and then removing them in the summer is a labourious and expensive annual task
The Mowlem slipway will be blocked off again for the winter
Utilitarian grey blocks
In the meantime, money continues to be spent on the temporary solution, including the cost of storing the blocks at the old council depot in Kings Road West, a site which many would prefer to be developed for social rent housing.
The appearance of the unattractive and utilitarian grey blocks do not sympathetically enhance the conservation area of the Victorian seaside town, although they have been improved by attaching colourful panels of artwork.
For a second year, the blocks on the lower High Street will be double banked to resist the strongest of winter storms.
In November 2023, the single row of blocks were tossed across the lower High Street during Storm Ciarán, so for public safety a new layout was deployed in 2024.
The art trail panels, some created by local artist Andy Knill, will be reinstated from the beginning of October 2025
The new layout doesn’t stop the flying debris from littering the pavement and road, as occurred in September 2024
Flying debris
However the new layout only protects the road from flooding and not flying debris, so the road may have to be closed if Dorset Council doesn’t remove the sand, pebbles and seaweed from the highway following a storm.
In 2024, a local resident ended up clearing the debris, fed up with waiting for Dorset Council as the highways authority to do its job.
Swanage Town Council will get an update on the progress of the project at its coastal change and beach management advisory committee on Wednesday 1st October 2025, which starts at 2.15 pm at the town hall.
In better news, a £29.4 million flood defence scheme for Poole, from Holes Bay to Poole Bridge was approved in July 2025. Work should be starting in autumn 2025 and take about 18 months to complete.
What a mess! The damage caused by Storm Ciarán in November 2023 illustrated the need for a permanent scheme to protect Swanage for the long term
