The Aims of the Project

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

A coastal change scenario and a range of high quality visualisations (3D animations and stills) will be created for each of the six communities, investigating how the coastline and community looked in the past, the present and what it may look like in the future. There are also two arts projects; Exploratory Laboratory and Coastal Voices.

Aim 2: Coastal communities are able to debate about coastal change

The project team will develop a network of community leaders who will guide the debate about coastal change in communities along the Jurassic Coast, through a series of seminars set up by the project team.

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

Clear guidance about the decision making process surrounding coastal change will be produced, to assist communities in making their voices heard. The project will also explore the creation of Coastal Action Plans for communities, which will examine how they can continue to adapt to coastal change in the future.

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

The project team will produce advice for householders on coastal change to improve resilience against coastal erosion and catastrophic events (e.g. storms). Research will be conducted to explore the different levels of tolerance to coastal change within communities at risk.

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

The project team will carry out trial negotiations with coastal householders at risk from coastal change, to test possible means of adaptation such as ‘buy and lease back' schemes. The project will also explore how land owners and businesses can be supported in adapting infrastructure and operations to meet the challenges of coastal change.

Read more about the Coastal Change Business Planning Tool

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

The project team will work with able, gifted and talented Geography pupils and their teachers in eight schools along the Jurassic Coast to assist them in undertaking their own piece of research. This research will investigate the issues and management policies surrounding coastal change along their stretch of coastline, at present and in the future.

Read more about the Pathfinder Education Programme

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

The project will explore how coastal change risks can be addressed through the spatial planning system and how this objective may conflict with existing planning policy. This will be achieved through the delivery of seminars drawing together planning professionals to improve multi-disciplinary collaboration together with research into the constraints and opportunities within the spatial panning system to plan for coastal change.

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