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Aims of the strategy
The purpose of this SOC is to provide the necessary information in a format that will enable Dorset Council and the Environment Agency to assess the scope of the project and any necessary investment. This SOC intends to gather further technical information to support the agreed strategy, which will include assessment of the strategic, economic, management, commercial and financial cases.
This is the list of the three main project objectives
- to manage the risk of flooding and coastal change to people, property, infrastructure and activities over the next 100 years.
- to develop an understanding of future climate change impacts beyond the next 100-years, in order to mitigate effects of sea level rise, increased storminess and deterioration of flood and erosion defences, whilst recognising Dorset Council’s declared Climate and Ecological Emergency.
- to provide a platform for future regeneration and growth of the town centre, harbour and esplanade, whilst ensuring construction minimises disruption to local residents, businesses and existing harbour and beach operations.
The intended outcome of this work is to get approval to proceed to Outline Business Case (OBC) from both Dorset Council Cabinet and the Environment Agency’s Large Project Review Group (LPRG).
Background to the proposal
Weymouth already floods and is impacted by coastal erosion. With a robust prediction of an acceleration in sea level rise and more intense weather events as a result of climate change, the problems facing Weymouth will increase significantly. Without investment in managing this flood and erosion risk, Weymouth faces increasing direct losses through flooded assets and infrastructure and indirect impacts such as a failing property market due to blight and increasing social deprivation.
On 6th October 2020, Dorset Council Cabinet approved the Weymouth Harbour and Esplanade Flood and Coastal Risk Management Strategy which drew upon all relevant reports, bringing together their findings and recommendations to define a preferred strategic pathway to managing coastal flooding and erosion risk around Weymouth Harbour and along the Weymouth Esplanade.
The cabinet also approved the production of a SOC, which will utilise the adopted 2020 strategy to produce a business case document that gains approval from the Environment Agency’s LPRG. It will provide a companion document to the adopted 2020 strategy, containing additional technical detail in line with the Environment Agency’s guidance for producing SOCs.
Intelligence and Communication
Data, information, evidence and research used and how it has influenced the decision-making process
Engagement has been undertaken with some key stakeholders during reports commissioned in the past decade, namely the Weymouth Bay Coastal Processes Study (WBCPS) and beach and shoreline management plans. These stakeholders include Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation and Wessex Water.
This is a list of other key stakeholders that will be engaged with as part of the SOC
Dorset Council Portfolio Holders;
Dorset Council Officers (Planning, Highways, Flood Risk, Regeneration, Finance, CSAMG and Procurement);
Dorset Council Harbours Committee;
Weymouth Town Council;
Weymouth Harbourmaster (Members and Officers);
Environment Agency (Planning, Partnership Funding Advisor); and
Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
Engagement will also take place with harbour businesses which are likely to benefit from a scheme to increase the flood risk.
This list of organisations may include:
Asda
local Harbour businesses
RNLI
Engagement has taken place during recent/current schemes in Weymouth harbour. This includes the replacement of wall ‘D’ and the repair works to walls ‘C, E & 9’. This engagement has helped to inform our project team as to who and how the people in this proposal should be engaged with.
We have also procured a number of reports in the past decade to better understand the flood risk to the harbour and esplanade. This includes strategies, flood modelling, harbour and esplanade assets inspection and beach and shoreline management plan. These reports have told us who is currently at risk, who may be at risk in the future under different climate scenarios and the options which will be needed to combat the increased flood risk.
The research/evidence/data tells us that the flood risk over the next century will increase and the number of people that may be effected will increase if nothing is done to combat the risk.
It is imperative for Weymouth to combat this risk with further investment to protect the economic and recreational interests of the harbour and esplanade.
Our work also needs to tie in working with the Highways transport strategy, the Dorset Local Plan and any regeneration projects. This is to coordinate works where-ever possible and will be part of our discussions with Dorset Council Officers.
Further information needed to help inform this proposal
Other than what is discussed above, no further engagement will be necessary at SOC.
Further stakeholder engagement with harbour and esplanade users/residents/businesses will need to take place as well as formal consultation. This will be carried out during OBC and through the planning process. These engagements/consultations will help to design works and plan the phases of work.
Engagement or consultation that has taken place as part of this EqIA
No public engagement or consultation will take place as part of the SOC process. Engagement will be made with any potential funding contributors and the stakeholders listed above.
Future consultation and engagement will be extensive due to the nature of these works. This process will be completed during OBC, the planning process and during the design phase of the works.
Feedback
Discussion which are held with key stakeholders will be in the form of written notes. The Harbours Committee updates will be in committee papers and written notes.
Consultation advice will be sought from internal officers and the Dorset Coast Forum to make sure consultation will be in the correct format, reach the necessary persons and be fed back appropriately. This will be conducted during OBC.
This policy, strategy, project or service does not require an EqIA because due to the high-level nature of this SOC an EQiA is not applicable at this time, however design of specific works that are derived from the strategy will consider the impact and carry out an EQiA. This will be undertaken in the OBC.
Who has agreed this EqIA?
Name R Thomas
Date 27 January 2021
Equality lead Susan Ward-Rice
Date 12 February 2021
Equality and Diversity action group chair Rebecca Forrester
Date 15 February 2021