Lyme Regis is a perfect example of how coastal management... Show more
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Jess Dodwell
12/12/2025
Geography
GCSE Geography AQA: Lyme Regis Case Study
1 / 3
The Problem: A Town Under Threat
Lyme Regis might look like a picture-perfect seaside town, but it's actually sitting on a geological time bomb. This coastal erosion hotspot on England's south coast swells from 4,000 residents to 15,000 during peak summer months.
The tourism industry is absolutely vital here - visitors spend £41.9 million annually and support 880 jobs. But there's a serious problem: the town sits on actively eroding coastline that's prone to dangerous landslips and cliff collapses.
Without intervention, experts predicted disaster. Over 480 houses, the main car park, and crucial infrastructure would be lost to the sea within 50 years. The sea wall was failing, and heavy rainfall was making the unstable cliffs even more dangerous.
Quick Fact: Tourism brings in nearly £42 million yearly to Lyme Regis - that's over £10,000 per permanent resident!
The Solution: £60 Million Coastal Defence Scheme
The Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Scheme launched in the early 1990s as one of the UK's most ambitious coastal management projects. This wasn't a quick fix - it involved four phases spanning over 20 years and cost a staggering £60 million total.
The engineering work was massive: 390 tonnes of rock armour, 6,800m³ of concrete for new sea walls, and thousands of soil nails and ground anchors to stabilise the cliffs. They even imported sand from France to create wider beaches that absorb wave energy naturally.
Phase 4 (2013-2015) was the final push, costing £20 million to protect the eastern coastline. This included a 390-metre sea wall and expensive cliff stabilisation work to save 480 homes from certain destruction.
Did You Know?: The new defences use hundreds of massive 'nails' driven deep into the cliffs - imagine giant screws holding the entire coastline together!
Results: Success With Some Unexpected Consequences
The scheme has largely succeeded in its main goal - 390 metres of coastline is now protected for the next 50 years, and the town has weathered several major storms without disaster. Tourist numbers have actually increased, boosting the local economy even further.
However, coastal management always creates winners and losers. The new defences have caused increased erosion at nearby Charmouth because they disrupt natural sediment flow. Some locals complain about increased traffic and littering from more visitors.
There's also an ironic twist for fossil hunters: stabilising the cliffs prevents the natural erosion that usually reveals new fossils along this famous Jurassic Coast. Environmental groups had mixed feelings, though invasive species were removed and natural habitats restored where possible.
Reality Check: Coastal defences often just move the problem elsewhere - protecting one area can increase erosion down the coast.
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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Sudenaz Ocak
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
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GCSE Geography AQA: Lyme Regis Coastal Management Case Study
Lyme Regis is a perfect example of how coastal management works in the real world. This small Dorset town sits on crumbling cliffs but attracts nearly 580,000 visitors yearly, creating a massive challenge between protecting people's homes and preserving the... Show more
The Problem: A Town Under Threat
Lyme Regis might look like a picture-perfect seaside town, but it's actually sitting on a geological time bomb. This coastal erosion hotspot on England's south coast swells from 4,000 residents to 15,000 during peak summer months.
The tourism industry is absolutely vital here - visitors spend £41.9 million annually and support 880 jobs. But there's a serious problem: the town sits on actively eroding coastline that's prone to dangerous landslips and cliff collapses.
Without intervention, experts predicted disaster. Over 480 houses, the main car park, and crucial infrastructure would be lost to the sea within 50 years. The sea wall was failing, and heavy rainfall was making the unstable cliffs even more dangerous.
Quick Fact: Tourism brings in nearly £42 million yearly to Lyme Regis - that's over £10,000 per permanent resident!
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Improve your grades
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The Solution: £60 Million Coastal Defence Scheme
The Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Scheme launched in the early 1990s as one of the UK's most ambitious coastal management projects. This wasn't a quick fix - it involved four phases spanning over 20 years and cost a staggering £60 million total.
The engineering work was massive: 390 tonnes of rock armour, 6,800m³ of concrete for new sea walls, and thousands of soil nails and ground anchors to stabilise the cliffs. They even imported sand from France to create wider beaches that absorb wave energy naturally.
Phase 4 (2013-2015) was the final push, costing £20 million to protect the eastern coastline. This included a 390-metre sea wall and expensive cliff stabilisation work to save 480 homes from certain destruction.
Did You Know?: The new defences use hundreds of massive 'nails' driven deep into the cliffs - imagine giant screws holding the entire coastline together!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Results: Success With Some Unexpected Consequences
The scheme has largely succeeded in its main goal - 390 metres of coastline is now protected for the next 50 years, and the town has weathered several major storms without disaster. Tourist numbers have actually increased, boosting the local economy even further.
However, coastal management always creates winners and losers. The new defences have caused increased erosion at nearby Charmouth because they disrupt natural sediment flow. Some locals complain about increased traffic and littering from more visitors.
There's also an ironic twist for fossil hunters: stabilising the cliffs prevents the natural erosion that usually reveals new fossils along this famous Jurassic Coast. Environmental groups had mixed feelings, though invasive species were removed and natural habitats restored where possible.
Reality Check: Coastal defences often just move the problem elsewhere - protecting one area can increase erosion down the coast.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
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Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user