Work to stabilise East Cliff in Bournemouth could continue until March 2028, planning documents show.
The scheme is aimed at reducing the risk of further landslips, improving safety and reopening the promenade, with work funded by a £3 million government grant, subject to consents and tender outcomes, while a planning application is now out for public consultation.
The East Cliff Lift has been out of operation since the 2016 landslip damaged the track bed and led to the removal of the lift cars, and the latest proposals include demolishing the remaining buildings and tracks as part of the wider stabilisation work.
Some parts of the lift mechanism would be salvaged and could be reused in future if the lift is ever reinstated, although there are currently no plans to bring it back because no funding is available for that work.
Two temporary construction compounds are proposed at East Overcliff Drive and on the promenade below, while planning documents also indicate a lane closure may be needed and some parking spaces could be temporarily lost or moved.
Councillor Sara Armstrong said she “wholeheartedly support[s]” the stabilisation work and called it “important for tourism”, while also saying the lift is “missed” by elderly and mobility impaired residents.
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