Bournemouth 's Proposed Artificial Reef - "Weights Reef"

This is where we aim to keep you updated with progress at the reef, which at the moment seems set to start work May 2008.
In honour of David Weight, whose passion for the concept of artificial reefs has driven the project locally, as a surfing community we have decided to call it "Weights Reef"

BOURNEMOUTH SURF REEF

PROJECT UPDATE -12th May 2008
Contracts signed for the construction of the surf reef

Bournemouth Borough Council has today contracted New Zealand-based ASR Ltd to construct the first artificial surf reef in the northern hemisphere in Boscombe. The contract is performance-based, to ensure the reef will perform to pre-stated standards. The contract also requires the reef to be completed by 31st December 2008 at the latest. The core construction period will be July-October and the estimated completion date remains the end of October, depending on weather conditions.
Councillor Stephen MacLoughlin, Leader of Bournemouth Borough Council says: “The deal has been done to bring the long-awaited surf reef to Boscombe to revive the area. It will be the most innovative sports and tourist attraction in the South. The public can be assured that the reef will definitely be completed at the latest by the end of this year. ASR Ltd had previously been commissioned as designers of the reef and will now use their expert knowledge in this highly complex marine construction project to achieve the performance requirements specified by the Council.”
The first delivery of construction materials, which includes the webbing base and the first consignment of geo-textile bags, is due to arrive in Southampton Docks in late June. The bags will then be transported to an undisclosed area in Dorset where they will be assembled onto the webbing base at a harbour-side location. They will then be loaded onto a barge for deployment at the Boscombe site.
Nick Behunin, Managing Partner of, ASR Ltd says: “We are pleased to be introducing Europe 's first artificial surfing reef as part of the Boscombe regeneration plan. We believe our ground-breaking technology will be integral in increasing tourism to the area. It's exciting to see how Bournemouth Council is going further than the other destinations in the world where we have built surf reefs, with significant additional investment in the infrastructure and facilities surrounding the reef. The regeneration of Boscombe, with the revitalisation of the Pier, Overstrand and new surfing facilities, restaurants and shops are really transforming Boscombe into an exciting surfing destination in the UK .”

Why is the project so dependant on weather conditions?
Because the construction of the reef takes place in the surf zone and requires the use of heavy machinery and specialised equipment, the construction window is highly dependant on weather conditions. Specially trained SCUBA-divers will be working in shallow water (3-6 metres) when deploying the reef. If sea conditions are too choppy it will becomes difficult to work. Visibility can also be very poor during these conditions, making it too hazardous to continue. This has been factored into the construction timetable.

When will the visual action take place?
The most visual aspect for the media will be the deploying of the sections of the reef at the Boscombe site. This is estimated to begin to take place in mid-July and continue for a 90-day period.

How will the reef work?
The reef works exactly like a natural reef in the ocean, creating a seabed profile that will shape the sea's natural wave energy into well-formed surfing waves. The reef cannot create swell or wave energy and does not generate waves. It will only work in swell conditions of 0.5 metres and above. For example, if the sea is calm and flat, the reef will have no effect whatsoever. If the sea has a swell of 1 metre, the reef can focus this swell into waves of up to 2 metres, dependant on the type of swell. The primary impact of the reef will not be to increase the size of the waves, but to improve their quality. Existing conditions in Boscombe often lead to very short rides. When the reef is completed, the ride length will increase significantly.

What's happening down at Boscombe?
The construction of the reef will be an exciting tourist attraction as people can watch the activity from the beach. The building of the surf reef has been planned to take place over the summer months, as ideal calm weather conditions are essential. The reef is made from 55 large geo-textile bags, which will be pumped hard with sand. To help facilitate this, 15,000m3 of extra material was procured separately for the reef and delivered as part of the 2007 beach replenishment. It was placed between the Honeycombe Beach development and near Manor Steps. As a result of the delay in achieving the granting of the FEPA licence, which has delayed construction of the reef, some of that material was lost over the winter period. The recent beach replenishment ‘top up' allowed for some more material to be procured in the most competitive way but it meant delivery was limited to the Portman Ravine area. This is now being moved to the area next to the reef construction site. The sand movement is taking place overnight to avoid disruption to beach users and beach hut tenants. There will be no activity or machinery moving during the day and there will be access to the beach throughout the day.

Some lengths of orange plastic safety netting have been placed within the existing promenade railings around Portman Ravine and between groynes 23 to 26. This netting is extended at night to cover access points down onto the sand in order to provide a safe working area for the tractors and trailers to transfer the sand. The netting is being removed each morning from the access points onto the beach.
People will have easy access to the beach during the day throughout this work period, which is expected to take up to three weeks. We hope that people appreciate that this temporary work will make Boscombe one of the most innovative and exciting beaches in the UK, and will provide the perfect viewpoint to watch the construction of the first artificial surf reef in the northern hemisphere.
The majority of the reef construction work will take place out to sea. However about one third of the groyne area in front of the Overstrand complex will be used as a compound for the pumping of sand from the beach to the reef site. The sand for the reef will be harvested outside normal beach visitor hours.

More developments - contracts signed - March 19th 2008
Today council officials signed the order to supply the bags for the reef.
ASR, the New Zealand company who designed the reef have now been employed to build it as well.
Their specialist team of divers and engineers are due to arrive in Bournemouth mid May to oversee the arrival of the webbing base and the first consignment of bags.
Within weeks, the base will be laid and anchored on the seabed off Boscombe and the construction can begin.
The Reef should be completed by October in time for the autumn swells - weather permitting !!!
We'll keep you up to date with any further news as soon as we get it.



SURF REEF IS GO! –OFFICIAL GREEN LIGHT FROM MFA GRANTED
Europe 's first artificial surf reef at Boscombe got the green light today.(13th December 2007)
The Marine and Fisheries Agency has granted Bournemouth Borough Council a special environment licence to begin construction of the project.
The Council is on course to start construction in spring 2008, with the reef anticipated to be completed in time for the October 2008 swell.
MFA chief executive, Nigel Gooding said: “We are delighted to be able to issue a licence under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
“A number of complex issues to ensure the protection of the marine environment had to be considered. The MFA had to take into account the potential impact of the reef on local fishermen and any possible danger to navigation. All the issues have been resolved,” he said.
The Borough has also approved the reef in its statutory capacity as the Coastal Protection Authority.
Specialist construction material for the reef will be ordered, including the ecologically sound geo-textile bags from Australia and the webbing base from New Zealand .
Roger Brown, Head of Leisure Services at Bournemouth Borough Council, said: “Christmas has come early to Bournemouth . This is the fantastic news that everyone has been waiting for. “The area of Bournemouth and Poole already has an excellent reputation as a leading watersports destination, however the reef will put Boscombe firmly on the surfing map. “Weather conditions permitting, we anticipate to complete the reef by Autumn 2008 and this will result in the surf reef and land-based retail, catering, and surf-instruction facilities being completed together. We are also pleased to announce award-winning designers, Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway MBE, are creating super beach huts for both surfers and holiday makers, as part of the Overstrand redevelopment.”
The surf reef and super beach huts will be accompanied by a surf-themed retail outlet , a surfing academy and a glass -fronted restaurant offering fantastic panoramic views of Bournemouth and the Solent . There will also be a catering outlet selling good-quality food-to-go , c hanging rooms, toilets and hot showers, all contributing to the major transformation of Boscombe seafront. As expected, many companies see the area as a sound investment and are already vying for a space in this prime seafront location.

PRESS RELEASE
9 th October 2007
Progress made on Surf Reef licence Bournemouth Borough Council has reached agreement in principle with local fishing representatives on the reef's construction and future monitoring arrangements. The Council will now formally respond to DEFRA, which is overseeing the process of issuing the necessary licence for the construction of the surf reef. There has been a delay in DEFRA processing the licence because of the uniqueness and complexity of the project. Once the Council receives the licence, it can then order the specialist geo-textile sandbags and the webbing base from New Zealand and Australia .
The Council is committed to working in partnership with local fishermen and marine ecologists through Bournemouth University , on the monitoring arrangements for the project before, during and after construction.
Roger Brown , Head of Leisure Services at Bournemouth Borough Council, says: “The public has waited patiently with us as we go through the lengthy but essential process for this landmark project, but the reef will be worth the wait. This is a significant step forward in the licence process and we anticipate starting construction in Spring 2008. Weather conditions permitting, this will result in the surf reef and land-based retail, catering, and surf-instruction facilities being completed all together in Summer 2008. Continuing positive publicity about the pioneering reef project and the resort will make Bournemouth one of the prime surfing destinations in the UK .”
Richard Stride, Chairman of the South Coast Fishermen's Council says: “We are reassured by the way the process is going. The continuing liaison between the Council and fishermen is quite positive and our concerns have, in principle, been addressed.”

15th June 2007
As you have probably gathered, news on the actual construction of the Reef has been a bit scarce
recently. As with all major public works, delays are to be expected, here's a press release from
Bournemouth Council today.

PRESS RELEASE 14 th June 2007 Bournemouth Surf Reef at Boscombe – An Update
There has been a great deal of work being made behind the scenes for Europe 's first Artificial Surf Reef. There has been delay in DEFRA processing the license because of the uniqueness and complexity of this project. However there is currently meaningful progress being made and DEFRA has offered the Bournemouth Borough Council a meeting to discuss the project. Once Bournemouth Borough Council receives a license from DEFRA, it can then order geotextile sandbags and webbing base from New Zealand and Australia .
Bournemouth Borough Council is planning to begin construction in early Autumn 2007. This is subject to license being issued in the near future and, together with favourable weather conditions for construction, this would allow for completion in November 2007.
Specialist materials will be transported from Australia and New Zealand . The “spider's web” base webbing, on which the geo-textile sand bags rest on is going to be manufactured in New Zealand and sent over to Australia . The geo-textile bags, which are environmentally inert and therefore ecological sound, will be manufactured in Australia . Both of these materials will then be transported to England for construction to start. The bags are huge, and each one has a total volume of between 30 to 800m.
The Surf Reef - What has happened so far?:
Bathymetric Survey (A measurement of the seabed floor)
In April 2007, Dr Kerry Black, designer of the reef, flew to England from New Zealand to spend some days undertaking a bathymetric survey of the seabed floor at Boscombe. This took place to ensure that the reef design was updated to the change in the seabed floor as a result of the beach replenishment activity that took place in December 2006/January 2007.
The reef is a certain height and so it needs to be fitted in the right position between the seabed and the surface. The process of measuring the seabed floor took place on a boat, which travel up and down the length of the reef, and then traversing the width, so that the exact depth of the seabed floor was measured accurately.
Final Reef Design - As a result of this process, a final reef design, that has been approved by other surf reef experts, has been finalised.
Reef Construction Contractor - Carillion has been nominated as the contractor for construction. Carillion are currently working on the renovation of Boscombe Pier.
Reef Construction Materials - The webbing and geotextile bag manufacturers have been nominated.


06th October 2006
Well, as you may have noticed, not much has really gone on in the last 12 months that anyone can see.
The delays caused by the planning meetings last year meant that work on the new housing development at Honeycombe Chine were delayed until this Autumn.
Work has now commenced and the sales office is open for business!
As the Reef is being built from the sea, using dredgers and divers, it's construction is very weather dependent. According to the latest schedule, this means work should commence in around may 2007 for completion by October. If it is not finished by then, work may be delayed until the following spring.
Watch this space !


19th September 2005
The Plans to build europes first artificial Reef took another step forward last night
when the planning board of Bournemouth Borough Council approved the plans for the
essential leisure complex on the understrand adjoining the Reef. This decision had been
referred by the board in July for further reports on parking facilities and "Wet Weather" attractions.
As pointed out by several speakers, Surfers are used to walking some distance from their cars to surf
and most people see surfing as a wet weather sport anyway !!!!!!!!
Anyway, latest timescale sees the reef ready for Autumn 2007, shops, restaurants, changing rooms etc Summer 2008.
Watch this space !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

28th July 2005
However, on 28th July the same council (planning board) also decided to defer any decision on the Leisure complex surrounding the Reef.
This is in order to hear more detailed reports from officers regading car parking provision for all the extra visitors.
The new date for the planning board meeting is 19th september at Chine Hotel, Boscombe, 6pm.
Please try and attend, so that the surfing community can make their prescence felt

24th April 2005
BOSCOMBE PLANS FULLY APPROVED BY COUNCIL
DETAILED PLANS NOW GOING AHEAD.
Councillors gave the go-ahead for Europes first artificial surf reef on April 24th

Spontaneous applause from members of the public and local residents broke out at a packed Bournemouth Cabinet meeting as Councillors gave the go-ahead to exciting plans for Europes first artificial surf reef, at Boscombe. 

A Planning application for the remainder of the surfing-themed leisure scheme at Boscombe Spa could be submitted within days.

Despite having to be drastically changed following the listing of the Pier entrance building last December, the £8million regeneration still includes the top priorities of local people, when surveyed in 2003.  These include:

• an £800,000 surf reef
• a restaurant with panoramic views - in the revamped and refurbished Overstrand building
• a revitalised and reopened Boscombe Pier
• improved landscaping, lighting and street furniture - including a piazza and open air events space
• no amusement arcade. 

The new scheme also includes 42 'super chalets' for purchase and hire, a Heritage Display, surfing tuition and themed retail, public art and sculpture, and improved changing / toilet facilities.

Members of the public turned out in force to hear the debate, and the only public deputation received at the meeting was in support of the reef, from the Wessex Surf Club.  Taking place just a stones throw from the site, at the Chine Hotel Boscombe, Councillors and residents heard a number of presentations specifically about the surf reef - on its construction, its environmental impact, how it works, and safety issues for bathers and surfers.  Professor Kerry Black, the worlds leading expert on artificial reefs, Dr David Harlow, coastal protection professional, the Council's Head of Tourism Mark Smith and the RNLI's Beach Safety expert Matt Horton all addressed the meeting in presentations lasting some 45 minutes.

Cllr Rob Copeland, Cabinet Member and local Ward Councillor said, "I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to approve the surf reef tonight, and give the go-ahead for the planning application on the rest of the scheme to be submitted.  We are delivering what extensive public consultation has told us that people want, and tonight the economic benefits to the local area have been made very clear to us - this is nothing but excellent news for Bosocmbe, and for Bournemouth ."

Leader of the Council Cllr Richard Smith praised the scheme for being an innovative way of "allowing local people and visitors to enjoy our assets and take part in healthy activities."

Continuing the extensive public information and consultation campaign that has supported the scheme throughout, eight road shows in the Boscombe area are now planned to support the planning process, give local people key facts and information, and give those with a view the opportunity to comment.  These will take place on 12th, 13th, 23rd, 24th and 25th May at the Sovereign Centre, and 26th, 27th and 28th May at Boscombe Pier.

Back in 2003, the Council spent time and money carrying out one of the most comprehensive public consultations ever undertaken by Bournemouth Council.

This included:

• Surveying 1,200 residents from across the Town
• Plus an additional 1,100 randomly selected people from Boscombe
• Numerous presentations to local groups and organisations
• In-depth discussion groups with parents, older people and residents.

The top priorities of residents, as identified by this consultation, are all accommodated in the Boscombe scheme

The following is some background information. We will endeavour to keep this page as up-to-date as possible but if you have any opinions or extra information to add, please e-mail us.
Latest developments are highlighted in light blue further down the page.

Many thanks to David Weight for much of the information contained in these pages, and for his hard work and determination on behalf of local surfers.

A Brief History

For several years now, a group of Local surfers, lead by Davd Weight and the Wessex Surf Club, have been lobbying Bournemouth Council to improve the surfing conditions in our area by building an Artificial Reef .

With the growth in surfing as a sport, and the income generated by surfers in the Town, the proposals have been taken far more seriously lately, by a progressively more forward-thinking Council, who can also see the advantages the reef would bring in protecting the beaches against the erosive power of the waves.

Recent History

On Monday 11th October 1999 Bournemouth Council decided to invest £10,000 on a feasability study into building the new reef at Boscombe or Southbourne (see our guide to the local breaks) in Bournemouth Bay with the question on how the scheme will be funded still to be answered.

In early March 2000 Professor Kerry Black, a world authority on these reefs and designer of the Narrowneck Reef on the Gold Coast, Aus., came to Bournemouth, with Angus Jackson, the worlds leading Coastal Management Engineer.

The two held meetings with all interested parties, including Bournemouth Council, MAFF,and local environmental groups. All signs are that the benefits of the reef are even greater than first expected, in terms of coastal protection, income generated for the town and a much needed recreational facility.

If the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) can be persuaded that the reef will replace wooden groynes as a form of coastal protection then a grant from the Government could be achieved. Latest information suggests that the Reef would offer better protection than groynes, as it would reduce the waves erosive power long before it reached the beach.

Original estimates of the reef costing around £500,000 have been halved by Professor Black, who now believes that the reef could be built for the same cost or less than the traditional Wooden groynes, so long a feature of Bournemouths seafront. If the plans for the reef are adopted, new reefs could be built every year instead of groynes. this would eventually make the beach a lot bigger, and transform Bournemouth into the Watersports Mecca of Europe !

Kerry Black returned to Bournemouth in June to present the findings of his study, including the Benefit-cost analysis. This showed a staggering 37-1 ratio for the Reef at Southbourne, and 21-1 at Boscombe.

Here is a brief summary of Professor Blacks recommendations:

Southbourne: Southbourne with be just one right hander of about 110m long. It will provide the coastal protection which is needed for this area at a capital cost similar to groynes and cheaper over 50 years, and it is hoped that funds will be obtained from MAFF for coastal protection, and from the lottery sports fund. This should be a challenging wave, probably a 6 - 7grade. (Pipeline would be 7-8, and Raglan a 5). Initial ideas suggest that the reef be based on Bingin, a reef break on Bali . (Professor Black's team have surveyed the bottom contours of all the renowned reef breaks around the pacific). It hoped that by breaking up the line of swell and creating refraction, one or two decent banks should form on each side, thus creating two or three breaks where there are currently none. (This effect has occurred at Narrowneck- they still have to get the top layer on there, but it shows very good form on large swells).

Boscombe: The Boscombe pier reef would be double sided reef with a left hander of about 90 metres and a right hander of about a 100 metres. The reef would be designed to protect a slightly shortened pier which is in a poor state and which would otherwise have to be demolished, or else rebuilt at great cost in the near future. The Boscombe reef would be a bit less severe than Southbourne, probably a grade 5. This is partly to give variety, but also to appeal to the intermediate or merely competent surfers. It is hoped to have night-lights on the pier so that people can surf after work in the winter.


In November 2000 there was a joint meeting of the council, where any doubts local councillors and residents may have had were answered. At the previous council meeting in June, it was agreed that the plans had to be approved by the towns coastal defence advisors, HR Wallingford. Their response to Professor Blacks study was favourable, and this helped to sway those councillors who still had to be convinced. The outcome was that Bournemouth council fully approved the plans to build the Reef at Boscombe Pier.

The reef is now an integral part of the Boscombe Spa/Honeycomb chine re-generation scheme. This is essentially a document setting out the councils plans for the area, which include a hotel complex, new flats and a complete re-vamp of the near-derelict pier.
Essentially, once the developers of the Honeycomb Chine scheme have been approved, the council will undertake a public consultation exercise. The Funds from the land sale will plan and build the Boscombe Reef, and also pay for plans for the Southbourne Reef. Funding for actually building the Southbourne reef may still have to be found from Lottery or private sources.

So...progress has been made, and we are a step nearer to putting Bournemouth on the world surfing Map. but don't expect to wake up and find a Reef on your doorstep. The planning stages will take as long as the building, and there are many streams still to cross.

Thanks to everyone who has lobbied councillors for support, and sent messages over the last 18 months. We really do appreciate it !!!