A decision on whether Blackpool Council will build 17 rocky groynes along the coastline has been postponed following formal objections from the RNLI. According to BBC News, the council's planning committee deferred the major application after the charity raised safety concerns about the proposed defences. The council now faces mounting pressure to resolve the dispute, as changes to government funding rules mean that failure to proceed could trigger a £13 million contribution requirement from the local authority.
Blackpool Council submitted the planning application in March to construct manmade rock headlands on the beach, designed to trap sand and prevent erosion of the town's sandy beaches. The RNLI lodged its formal objection in April, claiming the council had disregarded safety issues they had previously highlighted. Since the application was submitted, more than 60 objections have been received from the public.
What safety risks concern the RNLI?
The RNLI's primary concern centres on operational hazards created by the proposed structure. The charity warned that closely spaced groynes could reduce safe space for recovering vessels onto the beach and create collision risks for watercraft, particularly at night. The organisation also raised concerns about increased risk to tourists and rescue crews operating in the area.
In response to these objections, multiple stakeholders have engaged in further discussions. Multi-agency meetings and workshops have been held and are planned to address rescue and recovery risks around the groynes, according to the Blackpool Gazette. Blackpool Council's Health and Safety Teams have also assessed and updated the council's risk assessments relating to its own operations on the coastline.
Why is the council under pressure to act?
The council faces a statutory duty to deliver schemes protecting the coastline. Funding rules introduced by the Environment Agency in April 2026 have fundamentally altered the financial landscape for coastal defence projects. New schemes valued over £3 million must now secure 10 percent of capital funding from local sources, a requirement that did not previously exist.
The proposed Blackpool Beach Management Scheme is valued at £57 million, meaning the council would be required to contribute £13 million if the project proceeds under the new funding framework. If the current proposals fall through and a replacement scheme becomes necessary, the council would face this substantial financial obligation due to the changed government funding structure. A report to the council's Climate Change and Environmental Scrutiny Committee emphasised that
if funding is withdrawn for these schemes there is no longer funding in the future at the current 100% level.
What is the history of coastal erosion in Blackpool?
Blackpool's beaches have faced persistent erosion challenges. Earlier timber groynes failed to retain the beach, which is one reason the council now proposes rock headlands as a more durable alternative. The council has previously warned that beaches
could be lostunless urgent action is taken to address the erosion problem.
What happens next?
The council's Climate Change and Environmental Scrutiny Committee is due to consider a report on the scheme on 4 November 2026. The planning committee has not yet set a new decision date following its deferral on 1 September 2026. Consultation with business leaders, stakeholders and residents will continue throughout the pre-construction phase and once the schemes commence on site, should planning permission be granted.
Subject to planning permission being obtained, work on the Bispham and Blackpool Beach Management schemes is scheduled to start in early 2027. The outcome of the ongoing safety assessments and multi-agency discussions will be critical in determining whether the planning committee approves the application at its next consideration.
