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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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. 

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