Unit

Durlston Bay O.1

Summary management approach

Maintain the geological value through allowing natural coastal evolution. It is recognised that there will be property at risk in the medium to long term along the shoreline. Local activity to maintain or replace measures that address cliff slope drainage and limit cliff recession which have been installed in a localised section of this unit will not continue. This will ensure that the target of a more natural shoreline important to landscape and wildlife as part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site can be achieved. As a consequence, there will be property at risk of being lost to erosion in the medium to long term.

Generic approach assigned to this unit

Management approaches depend on funding and relevant approvals and permissions. Adaptation to coastal change may be needed. If defences are present, some risk from flooding, erosion or ground instability may remain.

Time periods (short (0 to 20 years), medium (20 to 50 years) and long (50 to 100)) are approximate and do not signify precise dates of management transitions.

0 to 20 years (2005 to 2025)

MR6Managed realignmentLocal activity only

Where the overall intention is for a natural shoreline, not to encourage new defences. In some areas, where specified in the Shoreline Management Plan, works to repair or construct short stretches of defence to provide localised protection (such as to a slipway, access point or isolated properties) may be considered by the Local Planning Authority. All works require relevant permissions.

---

20 to 50 years (2025 to 2055)

MR6Managed realignmentLocal activity only

Where the overall intention is for a natural shoreline, not to encourage new defences. In some areas, where specified in the Shoreline Management Plan, works to repair or construct short stretches of defence to provide localised protection (such as to a slipway, access point or isolated properties) may be considered by the Local Planning Authority. All works require relevant permissions.

---

50 to 100 years (2055 to 2105)

NI2No active interventionDo not defend

Where no defences are present, and it would be technically, economically, or environmentally unsustainable to introduce defences due to their impact on other communities, or on sites protected for their environmental importance.

---

Neighbouring units

The following units are within 1km of this one:

• Promenade N.2
• Town Centre N.3
• Town Centre to Peveril Point N.4
• Durlston Head to St Alban's Head 5G01

Protected sites

This area of coastline is in or near a special protection area.

Data last updated: 2024-04-17

View Special Protection Area on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is in or near an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Data last updated: 2024-06-29

View Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is in or near 2 special conservation areas.

Data last updated: 2024-04-17

View Special Area of Conservation on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is not in or near a ramsar wetland area.

Data last updated: 2024-04-03

View Ramsar Site on the Data Services Platform

There are no scheduled monuments near this area of coastline.

Data last updated: 2024-04-03

View Scheduled Monument on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is in or near a local nature reserve.

Data last updated: 2024-06-29

View Local Nature Reserve on the Data Services Platform

There is a site of special scientific interest near this area of coastline.

Data last updated: 2024-06-29

View Site of Special Scientific Interest on the Data Services Platform

This area of coastline is in or near a national nature reserve.

Data last updated: 2024-06-29

View National Nature Reserve on the Data Services Platform

There is a marine conservation zone near this area of coastline.

Data last updated: 2024-04-03

View Marine Conservation Zone on the Data Services Platform

---

Actions for this unit

All actions are subject to funding and approval, often by other parties than the Lead Organisation shown.

Reference Number	Action Description	Action Lead Organisation	Action Progress Status	Priority
15.27	Set-up a task and finish group to progress and implement actions arising from the SMP-Refresh covering units N.1 and O.1.	Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council	Not yet started	Medium
15.27.04	Develop new North Swanage and Durlston Cliffs Management Strategy, ensuring ongoing engagement with the community, statutory stakeholders and private landowners is a key aspect of this work.	Dorset Council and National Trust	Not yet started	Medium
15.48	Ensure all SMP planning and delivery supports the Dorset and East Devon UNESCO World Heritage Site management policies and objectives as set out in the Jurassic Coast Partnership Plan. Engage with the Jurassic Coast Trust and affected stakeholders on the potential implications of risk management activities on the Site's Outstanding Universal Value, and any mitigation or compensation required.	Pending agreement	Progressing	Medium-low

Download table as spreadsheet (CSV)

Download SMP documents

The information on this website represents the current SMP management approaches adopted by the local authorities within its area, and current actions needed to deliver them. These management approaches have been approved by the Environment Agency under its Strategic Overview for coastal flood and erosion risk management and are considered to be local policy.

The documents below provide the full SMP adopted locally and approved by the Environment Agency at the time of publication. Some of the information has changed in response to new government policy, new evidence or new work identified.

Data on this page

• Action plan (CSV)
• Policies (CSV)

Main report

• Section 1 - Introduction
• Section 2 – Assessments
• Section 3 - Basis for Development of the Plan
• Section 4 - An appraisal of Options and Rationale for Preferred Plan
  • Section 4.1 - Introduction
  • Policy Development Zone Map
  • Section 4.2 - Policy Development Zone 1
  • Section 4.3 - Policy Development Zone 2
  • Section 4.4 - Policy Development Zone 3
  • Section 4.5 - Policy Development Zone 4
• Section 5 - Summary of Preferred Plan and Implications
• Section 6 – Policy Summary
• Section 7 – Action Plan

Appendices

• Appendix A - SMP Development
• Appendix B - Stakeholder Engagement

• Appendix C - Baseline Process Understanding:

  • C1 - Coastal Processes Report
  • C2 – Tidal Mapping
  • C3 – Erosion Mapping
  • C4 - Scenario: Baseline Case 1 - No Active Intervention (NAI)
  • C5 - Scenario - Baseline Case 2 - With Present Management (WPM)
  • C6 - Defence Data
• Appendix D - Natural and Built Environment Baseline (Thematic Review)
• Appendix E - Issues and Objectives
• Appendix F - Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Appendix G - Scenario Testing
• Appendix H - Economics
• Appendix I - Estuary Assessment1
• Appendix J - Habitat Regulation Assessment
• Appendix K - Metadatabase
• Appendix L - Water Framework Directive
• Appendix M - Review of Hengistbury Head
• Appendix N - Client Steering Group Approvals

Supporting Documents

• Poole and Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan Post Adoption Statement
• Policy Summary Map

Related links

• Coastal Group Website
• Coastal Handbook
• National Coast Monitoring
• Flood and coastal erosion risk management: current schemes and strategies
• Designated Sites View
• SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN (SMP) BCP Council