Home / Environment / 100-Year Coastal Plan Tackles £1bn Flood Risk
100-Year Coastal Plan Tackles £1bn Flood Risk
21 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Two councils adopted a 100-year joint plan for coastal flooding and erosion.
- Estimated £1 billion in damages could occur without action over the century.
- The strategy covers coastline from Hengistbury Head to Hurst Spit.
Two seaside local authorities have unveiled a new century-long joint action plan to manage coastal flooding and erosion. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) and New Forest District Council collaborated with the Environment Agency and Aecom on the Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy.
This strategy highlights that over 3,500 properties are at risk from ageing coastal defences and the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels. If no action is taken, the coastal frontage could incur approximately £1 billion in damages over the next 100 years.
The plan, which applies to the coastline from Hengistbury Head Long Groyne in Dorset to Hurst Spit in Hampshire, proposes three flexible options for each area. These include national economic, local aspirational, and a backup option if funding is not secured, aiming to protect people, property, and infrastructure.
