Works to protect Lyme Regis Cobb delayed again

Work on the next phase of coastal works at Lyme Regis has been delayed again – and is now unlikely to start until autumn 2026 at the earliest.

The project, centred around the Cobb, has seen costs rise and the funding gap increase, although the shortfall has not been made public.

Work on that project was due to start in the winter of 2025 but last year slipped to the spring of 2026, subject to permit and licensing approval, and assuming the finance could be found.

Further design work has been carried out to investigate potential ways of reducing the overall cost.

Nick Marks, from the Lyme Regis Harbour Consultative Committee, told a meeting of the county’s harbours committee on Wednesday (March 5th) that the work had continues to be delayed, year after year, dating back to the days when the former West Dorset District Council was in charge.

“The funding gap has not been filled and there appears to be no agreed design… what assurance can Dorset Council give to the residents of Lyme Regis that Phase 5 is seen as a priority for the Council and that all necessary steps are being taken to resolve the funding shortfall and break the perceived stalemate in the council project team and regulatory bodies to reach an agreed design which can be implemented as soon as possible?” he said.

The council’s coastal engineering manager Mathew Penny said work on the scheme, to strengthen and stabilise the Cobb, was continuing with talks underway to try and reduce the shortfall.

“Currently there is national uncertainty regarding future Defra-funded coastal defence grants and aid allocations, including the Lyme Regis environmental improvement scheme, phase 5, which is a further challenge to project funding,” he told councillors, adding that Dorset Council had approved a capital funding bid for the scheme, which includes council money for the project.

Mr Penny said that ‘value engineering’ work had been carried out, with updated construction costs, which had received positive feedback from Natural England, with the Dorset Council project team continuing with their talks with Historic England for further pre-application advice.

“Construction is anticipated in autumn 2026 and it is our intention to hold public engagement and awareness sessions later in the year… to find the least disruptive route to facilitate construction,” said Mr Penny.