Bournemouth is to gain a 1,600ft (148.7m) reef, to be built a quarter of a mile offshore adjacent to Boscombe pier.
The reef – which is part of a larger, multi-million pound regeneration of the Boscombe seaside area – will be able to produce 16ft (4.9m) high breakers. It is intended to become the first in a series of artificial reefs installed along the south coast.
The surf reef will be made from hundreds of sunken sandbags and be designed to amplify the waves that roll onto the beaches by around two and a half times.
Plans for the redevelopment of Boscombe – including the reef – have already been approved by Bournemouth Council’s borough cabinet and a planning application has now been submitted, which is likely to be considered on 18 July.
This news comes as a blow to Newquay, in Cornwall, which is currently the top surfing resort in the UK and has had an initial feasibility study on building a reef around 500 metres (1,640ft) off the shoreline at Towan Beach, completed in 2002 by ASR, a marine and freshwater consultancy group specialising in artificial surf reef design.
However, plans to build the reef were abandoned recently due to complaints from local fishermen that the reef could be environmentally damaging and a lack of local funding.
Last month, Newquay council’s tourism officer, Paul Wright, said that the reef wasn’t a ‘high priority’ due to the escalation of costs and lack of local authority money to fund the project.
Wright commented: “When the reef scheme was first proposed, the cost at that time – including the environmental impact study, which was a major factor as to whether it should go ahead or not – was about £1m.
“The situation has escalated a lot in terms of cost – we’re now talking up to £6m. The environmental study alone will now cost £500,000. While the initial concept of the reef is exciting, it needs to be put into context – we’ve got a harbour and six or seven beaches, some of which are private.
“We’ve had accusations of the council being negative regarding the artificial reef but we have to prioritise. Through wide-scale regeneration, we’re improving the whole of the resort so not only the visitor will benefit but also the residents.”
Around 250,000 people surf in Britain every year, making it one of the most popular sports in the country and the sport is estimated to be worth more than £200m a year. Details: www.bournemouth.gov.uk or www.asrltd.co.nz
