BCP Council is inviting residents, businesses and visitors to take part in a public consultation on a new proposed approach for managing the sand dunes at Sandbanks in Poole. The consultation will run from 16 February to 29 March 2026.
The draft approach includes 13 proposals designed to improve the long-term management of the dune system. Further measures are proposed to manage sand build-up against boundary walls and private properties, set a defined maximum dune height to limit impacts on views, access and structural safety, and recycle sand within the dune system to support its resilience.
Cllr Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, said: “Sandbanks sand dunes are a vital natural asset – protecting our coastline, supporting rare wildlife and shaping one of our most iconic landscapes. I encourage everyone to take part in this consultation so we can shape a sustainable future for Sandbanks together.”
These proposals aim to balance coastal protection, biodiversity, public access and the needs of local residents, ensuring that the dunes continue to provide important habitats and act as a natural defence against storms and erosion. The approach also sets out plans to improve signage and fencing to reduce trampling, reinstate previously vegetated dune areas that have been damaged, maintain existing groynes and explore the potential for additional or upgraded rock groynes to widen narrow parts of the beach and support dune growth.