BCP Council is inviting residents, businesses and visitors to take part in a public consultation on a proposed new approach to managing the sand dunes at Sandbanks in Poole. The consultation will run from 16 February to 29 March 2026.
The proposals have been shaped through extensive engagement with local communities, environmental specialists, stakeholders and statutory organisations between 2023 and 2025. The new approach aims to protect the important natural habitat at Sandbanks, enhance coastal resilience and address key challenges such as storm damage, the spread of invasive species, windblown sand affecting properties (known as sand encroachment), and difficulties with access created by shifting dune formations.
Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy at BCP Council, said:
“Sandbanks sand dunes are a vital natural asset – protecting our coastline, supporting rare wildlife and shaping one of our most iconic landscapes. We’ve listened closely to residents and experts, and these proposals set out a balanced, evidence-based approach to managing the challenges we face.
“I encourage everyone to take part in this consultation so we can shape a sustainable future for Sandbanks together.”
The draft management approach includes 13 proposals; key measures include maintaining beach access by clearing public pathways, managing and restoring dune vegetation through the creation of a dune plant nursery, establishing a new community Sand Dune Management Group, and offering native plants to local homeowners to prevent the spread of non-native species.
Further measures are proposed to manage sand build-up against boundary walls and private properties, set a defined maximum dune height to limit impacts on views, access and structural safety, and recycle sand within the dune system to support its resilience.
The proposals also set out plans to improve signage and fencing to reduce trampling, reinstate previously vegetated dune areas that have been damaged, maintain existing groynes and explore the potential for additional or upgraded rock groynes to widen narrow parts of the beach and support dune growth.
These proposals take into account the need to balance coastal protection, biodiversity, public access and the needs of local residents, ensuring that the dunes continue to provide important habitats and act as a natural defence against storms and erosion.
No decisions have been made at this stage, and feedback from the public will play a key role in shaping the final approach before it is presented for approval.
Residents, businesses and visitors can take part by completing the online* survey at haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/sand-dunes-consultation where you will find a full set of documentation and a map summarising the proposals.
The consultation closes at 23:59 on 29 March 2026.
* Paper copies of the survey documentation is available from local BCP libraries. For questions or alternative survey formats, residents can email coastal@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.
