Clifftop properties worth £70m saved from being cut off by ongoing landslip


Clifftop properties worth £70million combined have been saved from being cut off by a landslip after the local council spent £2.5million to fight coastal erosion.

A road between the 80ft cliffs at Poole, Dorset and ten blocks of flats was in danger of being swallowed up – with a landslip in 2017 forcing the local authority to intervene.

Since then there has been significant movement at Canford Cliffs, leading to fears the flats, which offer stunning sea views and sell for £750,000 each, could be at risk. 

The properties are set back from the cliff edge but would have been cut off had erosion been allowed to continue.

The local council has spent £2.5m having over 1,500, 50ft long steel nails hammered into the cliff face. The giant poles will reinforce and support about 60,000sq ft of cliff. 

The luxury apartments are based in an affluent part of Poole, with previous Premier League managers Harry Redknapp, Tony Pulis and Graeme Souness all living nearby. 

The preventative measure was introduced to protect 10 blocks of luxury flats along Poole's coastline. Each of the flats sells for around £700,000, in part due to their stunning sea views

The preventative measure was introduced to protect 10 blocks of luxury flats along Poole’s coastline. Each of the flats sells for around £700,000, in part due to their stunning sea views

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has spent £2.5million shoring up the cliff face to prevent further landslips, with locals expecting the measures to protect properties for up to 80 years

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has spent £2.5million shoring up the cliff face to prevent further landslips, with locals expecting the measures to protect properties for up to 80 years

More than 1,500, 50ft long steel nails have been hammered into the cliff face in Poole. The giant poles will reinforce and support about 60,000sq ft of cliff

More than 1,500, 50ft long steel nails have been hammered into the cliff face in Poole. The giant poles will reinforce and support about 60,000sq ft of cliff

Black erosion-protection matting has also been laid over it to help prevent minor landslips and stabilise the soil.

Residents living in the flats say they are relieved the work has been done.

Ian Robertson said: ‘Clearly it needed to be done as without intervention the cliff would have eventually collapsed. I think some of the flats closer to the cliff must have been concerned about coastal erosion.

‘I am fully supportive of the council fixing it. It is £2.5m of investment.’

Workers have hammered 1,500 huge nails into the cliff face

Work cost the local authority £2.5million

Workers have installed 1,500 huge nails into the cliff face in order to prevent a landslip, caused by coastal erosion in the area

Nails could be seen jutting out of the cliff face as workers installed them. Work began following a landslip at the site in 2017

Nails could be seen jutting out of the cliff face as workers installed them. Work began following a landslip at the site in 2017

The work has been carried out to protect luxury apartments based at Canford Cliffs (circled), along England's south coast

The work has been carried out to protect luxury apartments based at Canford Cliffs (circled), along England’s south coast 

The exclusive properties are set back from the cliff edge but would have been cut off had erosion been allowed to continue

The exclusive properties are set back from the cliff edge but would have been cut off had erosion been allowed to continue

Cliff Drive is made up of a row of three storey blocks of flats that look out over Poole Bay and have views of Old Harry Rocks to the west and The Needles to the east

Cliff Drive is made up of a row of three storey blocks of flats that look out over Poole Bay and have views of Old Harry Rocks to the west and The Needles to the east

Another resident said: ‘I remember the landslip very well when it happened, it was extremely concerning.

‘I for one am relieved this work has taken place as it will secure the cliff for another 70 to 80 year we are told.’

Mark Andersen, portfolio holder for environment at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said: ‘Works being carried out are to address the cliff slip which happened in 2017.

‘The properties are quite a distance back from the cliff edge. There is a road and grassed areas between the cliff edge and the Cliff Drive apartment properties.

Black erosion-protection matting has also been laid over it to help prevent minor landslips and stabilise the soil while the nails take hold underneath

Black erosion-protection matting has also been laid over it to help prevent minor landslips and stabilise the soil while the nails take hold underneath

The properties are based in an affluent part of Poole, with previous Premier League managers Harry Redknapp, Tony Pulis and Graeme Souness all reportedly living nearby 

Work to protect the cliff for decades began last September and is expected to be fully completed by the end of spring

Work to protect the cliff for decades began last September and is expected to be fully completed by the end of spring

‘A pre-works property condition survey was offered to residents, this is standard practise and most residents had their properties assessed.’

The cliff work is being carried out by engineers from specialist contractor CAN Geotechnical.

They began last September and the project is due for competition by the end of spring.

Cliff Drive is made up of a row of three storey blocks of flats that look out over Poole Bay and have views of Old Harry Rocks to the west and The Needles to the east. 

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