BCP Council has announced the creation of a flood and coastal erosion risk management “centre of excellence” to combat climate concerns.

BCP Council’s Cabinet unanimously approved the establishment of a Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Centre of Excellence.

The authority says that the independent centre will provide an “effective and coordinated approach” to help prepare and protect residents and communities across the conurbation from the challenges created by the climate crisis.

Councillor Mark Anderson, environment portfolio holder, said: “The formation of an independent FCERM Centre of Excellence will build on the partnership model and the growing reputation of the high calibre managerial and technical expertise within the team.

“It also gives confidence to our funding partners who support our project delivery, and this has resulted in requests for collaborative support from other authorities, such as Devon, Cornwall, New Forest and the Environment Agency, as well as Dorset.

“Moving forward, the slight change to our operating model will allow us to continue delivering more projects, making best use of the nationally available flood defence grant in aid, thereby growing team resources and skills.

“This means we can deliver a higher quality of service, able to address the increasing risk from climate change including sea level rise and more frequent extreme storm events and all at no additional cost to the council.”

As well as designing and delivering large government funded projects, the main functions of the Centre of Excellence will be to set long term strategies for managing flood and coastal risk.

The Environment Agency, who provide the strategic overview for delivery of flood and coastal projects and allocation of flood defence grant in aid funding, support the Centre of Excellence.

In the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area, during the pandemic, coast protection projects which received funding or were delivered include:

• Renourishing seven depleted beach areas from Southbourne to Poole in a £7.5million scheme which saw 350,000m³ of sand and beach material being pumped ashore.

• Renewing four timber groynes last winter as part of a two-year, £1.9 million programme for eight timber groynes from the boundary of Poole/Bournemouth. Year 2 starts in October 2021 from Middle Chine to the West Cliff zig-zag path.

• The £2.5m cliff stabilisation scheme at Canford Cliffs following a cliff slip in 2017.

• £12.4m funding for new defences along Back Water Channel to help protect Poole Town Centre and the Old Town from tidal flooding.

• £450k for the development of the Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy which could lead to millions in project delivery.