Decision details

Reason for decision

Weymouth Town Centre and parts of the surrounding area are at risk of flooding and coastal erosion. With a projected acceleration in sea level rise and more intense weather events because of climate change, the problems facing Weymouth will increase significantly.

Budget implications

The scale of engineering construction works is significant and will require investment from multiple funding sources in line with Government’s Partnership Funding approach. Total investment in excess of £113million in cash cost terms will be required over the next one-hundred years. Funding and implementation of all phases of the Weymouth scheme over the next 100-years is estimated to
be approximately (c.) £52m Present Value (PV), which will provide substantial flood and coast risk benefit estimated to be £470m PV with a Benefit Cost Ratio
of 9 : 1. The wider financial benefits to Dorset and the South West Region will be several times greater. The predicted contribution from Dorset Council for the first
two phases of scheme (2020-2059) is approximately £9m.

Decision

1.    That the Weymouth Harbour and Esplanade Flood and Coastal Risk Management Strategic Outline Case (Appendix 1), be agreed, for submission to the Environment Agency’s Large Project Review Group.

2.    That officers develop the Outline Business Case towards deliverable schemes for inclusion in Dorset Council’s future capital programme.

3.    That the use of existing capital budget to deliver Outline Business Case be approved.