Managing the cliffs along Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s coastline is a complex task, spanning more than 15 miles and shaped by natural factors such as rainfall and groundwater movement. Many areas are also environmentally protected, meaning safety work must be carefully balanced with conservation requirements.
BCP Council teams work year‑round to monitor cliff conditions, maintain drainage systems and prioritise action where risks are highest, always with public safety as the top priority.
+East Cliff
The works for the East Cliff stabilisation project, which will restore access to the promenade, are set to begin in September 2026, subject to consents and tender outcome.
The stabilisation works, which are funded by a £3 million grant from the UK Government, will make the area of the promenade below the cliff safe - bringing this part of the seafront back into public use.
The first phase of works is now out to tender, with the council inviting bids on four options to deliver the project.
The project targets the section of cliff affected by the 2016 slip that severely damaged the East Cliff lift and surrounding infrastructure, with additional minor slips recorded in 2024 and 2025.
Access During Works
At the promenade level, the current safety cordon will remain in place until the cliff stabilisation scheme is completed.
Ecological Considerations
The East Cliff sits within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geological and ecological value, and the project is being undertaken in consultation with Natural England specialists.
Vegetation clearance—required to safely carry out stabilisation—will be managed outside the bird nesting season and guided by ecological surveys for bats and reptiles. Once works are complete, parts of the cliff will be reseeded with heathland species to support biodiversity.
West Cliff
In response to a significant landslip on 19 October 2024 which resulted in the displacement and damage of 16 no. beach hut structures on the promenade; BCP Council, together with Civil Engineering Consultant WSP, have undertaken detailed surveys and investigations of the area to enable them to carry out a detailed design of the cliff stabilisation scheme.
In the meantime, short-term interim works have been carried out on the cliff slope. These works were undertaken by CAN Geotechnical and are an interim approach to reduce the risk of undermining to the mid-slope infrastructure (concrete beam and wall), prior to the implementation of a permanent stabilisation solution.
Current Access
During this period, parking along St Michael's Road has been suspended and a road closure remains in place. This is to ensure public safety as well as to facilitate any required access during the design phase for consultants and contractors to the slip area.
At promenade level, a temporary walkway will remain in place around the cordon to enable access.
+Ecological Considerations
The area of the slip is within the Higher-level Stewardship agreement for Bournemouth Cliffs, which means that the council manage the area for nature conservation.
Careful consideration of plant species will be made during the restoration of this area, once works have been completed to stabilise the slip.
The Bournemouth Goats do not graze the areas where there has been cliff slips in the past.
Project Details
- East Cliff - Design: WSP - Geological Technical Design
- East Cliff - Funding: UK Government
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- West Cliff - Design: WSP - Geological Technical Design
- West Cliff - Client: BCP Council
- West Cliff - Contractor CAN Geotechnical
