BCP Council commits £28,000 to Christchurch Harbour protection plan
1 October 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
Christchurch Harbour could be one step closer to formal bathing designation after BCP Council's Cabinet confirmed a £28,000 investment to fund a new harbour protection framework.
The money will be used to commission the Dorset Coast Forum to produce a management framework guiding how the harbour is used and cared for, both now and in the future — covering everyone from watersports enthusiasts to wildlife groups and local residents.
Alongside the funding commitment, the council says it will write to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in support of community efforts to have Christchurch Harbour officially designated as a bathing area. Crucially, that designation would extend beyond swimming, potentially covering activities such as paddleboarding and kayaking — sports that have grown significantly in popularity along the Dorset coast.
If designation is granted, the Environment Agency would be required to monitor water quality at the harbour each summer, giving users reliable, up-to-date information about conditions.
The £28,000 will be drawn from the proceeds of a planned land disposal at Cabot Lane in Poole, a site already earmarked for sale to Wessex Water, which has wider plans to improve water treatment infrastructure across the South West.
Full details of the Cabinet decision are available on the BCP Council news hub.