Moray Council shares update on West Beach Car Park
Moray Council has signalled its intention not to renew its lease of the West Beach Car Park in Lossiemouth when it expires in January 2027. The decision reflects both the changing environmental conditions at the site and the need to take a long-term, sustainable approach to how the area is managed.
Technical assessments have confirmed that the site is increasingly at risk from coastal erosion, flooding and sea level rise. By 2050, it’s projected that the site will fall within the area of active coastal erosion, and by the end of the century, it’s expected to be below the mean high water spring tide level. Given the scale of investment needed to reinstate or protect the site – expected to be in excess of £750,000 – and the absence of secured funding or viable long-term solutions, these challenges make it difficult to justify substantial reinvestment in its current form. This difficulty is exacerbated by the wider cost control measures recently agreed by the council including capping and strict prioritisation of capital expenditure to ensure that future spend on key areas like schools and other key infrastructure is affordable.
Chair of Moray Council's Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “The council fully acknowledges how valued this location is by local residents, businesses and visitors. In recognition of that, the council is continuing conversations with key community representatives, including Lossiemouth Community Development Trust, Lossiemouth Community Council, Moray Golf Club and other local groups, to consider how the site might evolve and what opportunities could exist for the area beyond 2027.
“While this decision will mark a shift in the council’s responsibilities at the site, the commitment to working with the Lossiemouth community remains unchanged.”
More information about how coastal erosion is being managed across Moray is available on the Moray Council website.