Following approval by both Cabinets at Dorset Council and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, Dorset’s flood and coastal engineers are set to join the South West Flood & Coastal shared service.

South West Flood & Coastal (SWFaC) is a centre of expertise in Flooding & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM), hosted by BCP Council. Its approach is to minimise the risk of flooding and coastal erosion by working with local communities and partners, while aligning staff, skills and resources to provide a co-ordinated service.

Since September 2021, it has been providing support and guidance to other local authorities in the South West including New Forest, Dorset, East Devon, Exeter, North Somerset, Teignbridge and Torridge.

Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council Cabinet Member for climate response, environment and energy, said:

“The operating model for the shared service has already enabled us to attract central government funding for a range of high-quality flood & coastal schemes to help people, nature and places adapt to the changing climate across BCP and East Devon.

“The vision for the broader shared service has attracted specialist skills that would historically have been sourced through consultancy. This has been at no additional cost to the Council as the increased capability has attracted additional central government grant funding.

“We are pleased that Dorset Council has seen the value and additional benefits provided by joining the shared service.”

Dorset Council’s Cabinet member for Place services, Cllr Jon Andrews, said:

“As the past winter has shown, Dorset is already feeling the impact of more frequent and more intense weather events, and we must act decisively to protect our residents, our economy and our coastline. By joining this shared service, we are strengthening our flood and coastal defence services and increasing our access to experts and national funding.

“Being a full partner strengthens collaboration with neighbouring authorities and the Environment Agency, enhances community resilience and ensures a more consistent, well-resourced service right across Dorset.”

In May 2024, East Devon District Council (EDDC) was the first to join the SWFaC shared service. Since then, SWFaC has provided new coastal defences in Seaton and a 100-year beach management plan for Exmouth. It is currently progressing a beach and cliff management plan for Budleigh Salterton and a multi-million pound coastal defence scheme in Sidmouth.

East Devon Council Portfolio Holder for environment, Councillor Geoff Jung, said:

“With our common coastal protection and flooding concerns, a joint service between ourselves in East Devon together with Dorset, and BCP councils makes perfect sense.

“The joined-up approach and combined expertise have already proved to be a great benefit to East Devon DC. The broader expertise within the shared service will bring further benefits to protecting both people’s properties and our “World Heritage” designated coast from the challenges of our changing climate.”

The proposal for Dorset Council to join the South-West Flood & Coastal shared service was approved by BCP Council’s Cabinet on 26 March, following approval by Dorset Council Cabinet on 03 March. The full Cabinet report is available to view at BCP Council’s website – Proposal for Dorset Council to join South-West Flood & Coastal shared service (pdf)

It is fully supported by the Environment Agency who have the strategic overview for national FCERM delivery and encourage Councils to form partnerships. The Environment Agency oversee the National FCERM Strategy which includes the allocation of the (2021-2027) £5.2Bn FCERM Grant in Aid programme.