The scheme protects the town from destructive landslides and coastal erosion.

The work has seen Lyme Regis benefit from newly stocked sand and shingle beaches plus a new promenade which stretches right around the sea front.

Phase I of the scheme, which includes a new sea wall and promenade next to the mouth of the River Lim, was completed in 1995.

Lyme Regis is located on an actively eroding stretch of the West Dorset coast and faces considerable challenges from coastal erosion and landslipping. Problems have been particularly serious during the last 100 years, with many properties destroyed or damaged, erosion of the foreshore and major breaches of the sea walls.

The Lyme Regis Coast Protection Scheme was initiated by West Dorset District Council in the early 1990s. It aims to provide long-term coast protection for the town and to reduce damage and disruption caused by landslipping, through a long-term programme of engineering works. 

West Dorset District Council has also been carrying out preliminary studies and preparing conceptual designs for economic and environmentally acceptable coast protection works for other areas of the town. Emergency stabilisation work was carried out during winter 2003/2004 in critical areas to provide short-term protection while the main schemes were being developed. 

Work funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is now approaching completion on  the preliminary design study relating to Phase IV - the Church Cliff and East Cliff area on the eastern edge of Lyme Regis. This scheme will be of a similar magnitude to Phase II and will protect the coast, property and the natural environment.

• Name: Lyme Regis Environment Improvements Team
  Email: engineers@westdorset-dc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252360
  Fax: 01305 252349
  Full details for Lyme Regis Environment Improvements Team