What is the project?

DEFRA launched the £11 million Coastal Change Pathfinder fund in June 2009, inviting local authorities to bid for a portion of the money to improve community engagement in the process of planning to adapt to coastal change. There were 15 successful bids, of which the Dorset County Council, on behalf of partners in Dorset and East Devon, received £376,500 from DEFRA on 1st December 2009.

The overall purpose of this project is to engage with coastal communities about planning to adapt to coastal change, and ensure these communities are well-equipped to understand, debate and take part in the decision making processes involved in managing coastal change.

Project Aims

The project is working towards seven aims which will be achieved through the implementation of a range of activities. Through these activities the project will work towards achieving:

Aim 1: Coastal communities who are knowledgeable about what coastal change is and how it affects them. Read More

Aim 2: Coastal communities who are able to debate about coastal change. Read More

Aim 3: Coastal communities who are able to actively and meaningfully be a part of the decision making process regarding coastal change. Read More

Aim 4: Coastal communities who are well-prepared and equipped when dealing with coastal emergencies now and in the long term. Read More

Aim 5: Coastal communities who are supported in the testing and acceptance of practical action to adapt to coastal change. Read More

Aim 6: Future generations of coastal communities who are aware of the coastal changes facing them, and better prepared to deal with these changes. Read More

Aim 7: A spatial planning system which is well-equipped to reconcile the potential conflicts between a sustainable approach to coastal change on the one hand, and onshore/offshore development pressures on the other. Read More

Who are the Project Partners?

• Dorset County Council
• Devon County Council
• East Devon District Council
• Purbeck District Council
• West Dorset District Council
• Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
• Swanage Town Council
• Sidmouth Town Council
• Osmington Parish Council
• Owermoigne Parish Council
• Chideock Parish Council
• Charmouth Parish Council
• Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team
• Jurassic Coast Trust
• Dorset Coast Forum
• Devon Maritime Forum
• Environment Agency
• English Heritage
• Natural England
• National Trust
• Dorset AONB Partnership
• RSPB

Click here for the external links for our Project Partners