It is being recommended that Swanage in Dorset should be allocated £4.5 million by Dorset Council to address the ground instability of a section of the seafront and the safety and accessibility concerns along the road running parallel to the seafront’s sandy beach.
In a report due to be discussed at Dorset Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 19th May 2026, council officers are recommending approval for the funding to allow the enhanced redevelopment of Sandpit Field, Weather Station Field, and the Spa beach hut terrace, along with a new two way traffic scheme for Shore Road.
The Green Seafront is a huge asset to Swanage but engineering reports show that the ground is slipping towards the sea
Total investment of £5 million in Swanage
If approved at the meeting, £2.5 million will go to make up the shortfall of the Swanage Town Council’s preferred £6.9 million Green Seafront scheme, while a further £2 million will allow Dorset Council highways to deliver the Shore Road scheme with wider pavements and traffic calming.
Dorset Council has already committed £500,000 on the road scheme, which has gone towards drawing up draft plans and a public consultation.
This would make a total investment of £5 million in Swanage, to safeguard the future of one of Dorset’s top tourist attractions, which draws thousands of visitors to the county every year.
Swanage Town Council already has £4.4 million in capital funding allocated to the Green Seafront project which is estimated to cost £6.9 million in total. A £2.5 million capital grant from Dorset Council will be the difference between the enhanced scheme going ahead or not.
The draft plan for the £6.9 million Green Seafront scheme
The draft plan for the Shore Road two way option
Green Seafront and Shore Road plans
The £6.9 million Green Seafront scheme includes stabilising the ground plus the filling in part of Walrond Road, building more traditional beach huts, providing more seating, and making paths more accessible. There will also be a new plaza area with a cafe kiosk, a secondary event space, and significant additional planting to enhance biodiversity, together with additional trees to provide shade.
The key features for the preferred option for Shore Road includes two way traffic, pavement widths increased on the beach side of Shore Road up to approximately 2.5 metres, new pedestrian crossing points, and the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit.
To enable the widening of the pavement, parking will be removed from Shore Road, with new Blue Badge spaces created on Victoria Avenue and De Moulham Road. Short term set down / pick up spaces are also proposed for Victoria Avenue, near to the seafront.
Parked vehicles dominate the seafront view on Shore Road
The parking and traffic leave little space for pedestrians to take a stroll along the seafront – and even less space for wheelchairs and prams
The plan is to create Blue Badge spaces and a drop off/pick up point on Victoria Avenue
Lyme Regis recently got £6.2 million for The Cobb
In April 2026, Dorset Council committed £6.2 million for essential stabilisation and repair works to secure the long term future of The Cobb in Lyme Regis.
This came from its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) pot which gets money from building developers to pay for important local infrastructure including coastal defences and heritage structures like The Cobb.
While the Swanage schemes would get £5 million funded from different Dorset Council pots, the investment impact will be similar for both of the popular Dorset coastal resorts.
The £2.5 million for the Green Seafront would be a capital grant, while the money for Shore Road would come from the Local Transport Grant (LTG) money.
The stone walls have started to subside due to the ground movement
Beware falling rocks – not ideal for our wellbeing!
What could be a prime spot on Swanage seafront currently resembles a deserted 1960s holiday camp
“Deliver significant wellbeing and public health benefits”
In the report going to the Cabinet it says:
“The preferred options for the Green Seafront and Shore Road projects will deliver significant wellbeing and public health benefits by improving the quality, safety and usability of Swanage’s seafront.
“The Green Seafront project will protect and enhance an important area of open space, supporting physical activity, relaxation and community events through significantly improved access, surfacing and landscaping, while contributing to improved mental wellbeing in a higher-quality seafront setting.
“The Shore Road project complements these benefits by reducing vehicle dominance and improving pedestrian safety, with wider footways and safer crossings encouraging walking and healthier lifestyles.
“Combined, the projects will strengthen connections between the town centre, beach and seafront, creating a more cohesive and welcoming environment, with construction impacts managed through coordinated delivery to minimise disruption.”
Whether Swanage gets the money or not will be decided by Dorset Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 19th May 2026. The meeting starts at 6.30 pm and can be watched online.
It is by no means a done deal as this is a significant sum of money but if the funding does get Cabinet approval, then the next stage will be to submit planning applications for the schemes.
The aim is to start work in autumn/winter 2027.
Further information
- Read the Dorset Council background paper recommending approval for the funding
- See the Cabinet agenda for Tuesday 19th May 2026 from 6.30 pm and get the link to watch the live proceedings
- Read the Swanage Town Council Green Seafront Ground Stabilisation Project outline business case
- Background on the Green Seafront and the Shore Road schemes
