Published on Wednesday 04 March 2026
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council’s East Cliff stabilisation project, which will restore access to the promenade, has reached a major milestone with work on site set to begin in September 2026, subject to consents and tender outcome.
The stabilisation works, which are funded by a £3 million grant from the UK Government, will make the area of the promenade below the cliff safe - bringing this part of the seafront back into public use.
An approved detailed design for the project is now in place, and the first phase of works now officially out to tender, with the council inviting bids on four options to deliver core stabilisation of East Cliff.
Subject to consents, works are expected to start in September 2026 and—once underway—take around eight months to deliver, depending on weather and final engineering solutions.
The project targets the section of cliff affected by the 2016 slip that severely damaged the East Cliff lift and surrounding infrastructure, with additional minor slips recorded in 2024 and 2025.
Managing the cliffs along Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s coastline is a complex task, spanning more than 15 miles and shaped by natural factors such as rainfall and groundwater movement. Many areas are also environmentally protected, meaning safety work must be carefully balanced with conservation requirements.
BCP Council teams work year‑round to monitor cliff conditions, maintain drainage systems and prioritise action where risks are highest, always with public safety as the top priority.
Councillor Richard Herrett, Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations said: “Stabilising East Cliff is a major project which will help safeguard our seafront, protect nearby roads, homes and hotels, and restore access to this section of the prom for residents and visitors.
“This investment is about securing the future of one of our most iconic coastal landmarks and enhancing what residents and visitors love about Bournemouth’s coast.”
The East Cliff sits within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geological and ecological value, and the project is being undertaken in consultation with Natural England specialists.
Vegetation clearance—required to safely carry out stabilisation—will be managed outside the bird nesting season and guided by ecological surveys for bats and reptiles. Once works are complete, parts of the cliff will be reseeded with heathland species to support biodiversity.
The priority for this project is to stabilise the landslip area and restore safe access along the affected stretch of promenade. Reinstating the historic lift is not included in this project scope; any future consideration of a lift would require separate funding and a viable engineering solution.