Main construction work on the £29.4 million Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill flood defence scheme is set to begin in Poole, Dorset, on 1 June 2026. The project, which is being managed by BCP Council in partnership with the Environment Agency, is expected to take approximately five months to complete.
As the construction gets underway, residents will face several changes to local travel routes. The Holes Bay path will be closed to both pedestrians and cyclists from 1 June, with a signed diversion route available via Sterte Green. Additionally, a lane closure and a reduced speed limit of 30mph will be reinstated on the northbound carriageway of the A350 between Lifeboat Quay and Sterte Avenue West. Commuters should also note that a bus stop on Lifeboat Quay will move to a new location near Costa Coffee starting from 8 June.
The project, which was awarded planning consent in July 2025 under reference APP/24/01215/F, includes the installation of steel sheet piling. These specific works are expected to last about four weeks along the Holes Bay path and approximately two weeks along Lifeboat Quay Road, though these timelines depend on ground conditions.
The flood defence scheme is a major effort to protect central Poole from rising sea levels. Currently, 573 properties in the area are considered to be at high risk of tidal flooding, a number that is projected to rise to over 2,000 by 2110. Without these protective measures, the potential cost of flood damage over the next 100 years could exceed £161 million. The scheme is funded through a combination of £22.1 million from the central government and £7.3 million from the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy.
Construction had been delayed from an original August 2025 start date while the team worked to resolve outstanding planning conditions and secure necessary marine licences. The project is being delivered by the marine construction company Knights Brown.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
