Removal of at-risk beach huts on Hordle Cliff to begin
3 June 2024
We are removing 31 damaged and at-risk beach huts at Hordle Cliff, Milford on Sea.
The huts, along the eastern section at Hordle Cliff, have been badly damaged because of beach erosion and ground movement following a series of winter storms, meaning the plots are no longer viable.
The removal is planned to start on Monday 10 June, if the weather allows, and will use land-based machinery to undertake the removal.
Steve Cook, our coastal service manager, said "We have actively engaged with hut owners and the New Forest Beach Hut Owners Association, and have every sympathy with those who have experienced impacts at this very challenging coastal area."
"The removal of the huts is a challenging operation, made more difficult by the limited beach access and tidal working. We hope to complete the works before the end of June and reopen the beach for residents and visitors to enjoy in the summer months."
"We advise anyone considering buying a beach hut or other asset on, or close to, the coast to consider the risk before purchasing. People are welcome to contact our coastal team to understand the risks."
Paddy's Gap car park will remain open, but access to the beach from near the car park will be restricted while the work is undertaken.
Find out more about our coastal management on our website.
Additional information
NFDC has closed a section of the cliff for safety reasons and terminated some beach hut licences.
There are currently 300 beach huts at the Hordle Cliff site. Huts that have licences terminated cannot be relocated as there are no available plots
The operation is funded by beach hut income and will be weather dependant. For safety reasons, the work can only be undertaken when the cliffs have dried out sufficiently to allow access to the slopes.
The beach huts along the eastern section have become increasingly vulnerable to erosion and ground movement, particularly since Storm Eunice in February 2022. This winter has been one of the stormiest of record with Storm Ciarán (1st to 2nd Nov) causing further erosion, which has been compounded by high levels of rainfall. February 2024 was the wettest on record for Solent and South Downs (SSD) since 1891 and the area received 300% (174mm) of the (LTA) rainfall (58 mm).
Where beach hut sites are no longer viable to site a beach hut, then the hut cannot be rebuilt. This being on the basis that either the site is no longer there or is deemed unsafe due to beach erosion and ground instability.
Since 2021, NFDC has been working with BCP Council on the Christchurch Bay and Harbour Coastal Strategy. The strategy identifies options for protecting the coastline and is due to be completed towards the end of 2024. More on the Christchurch Bay and Harbour Flood Strategy can be found at https://haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/christchurchstrategy
The council has no statutory duty to undertake and deliver flood and coastal erosion risk management measures at any coastal site. As there are no defences at this location, the council has not undertaken any flood and coastal erosion risk management activities there.
The Shoreline Management Policy for this frontage is set as managed realignment, setting an expectation that there will continue to be change within this undefended section where measures may be introduced that slow but do not stop erosion. Any Shoreline Management Policy needs to be considered within the context that the implementation of any measures will depend on available funding and that there is no guarantee that any such funding will be forthcoming via grant aid and central government. For this particular frontage the estimated costs are in the order of £4m, with a likely Central Government contribution of only £1.3m. For the wider frontage of Hordle Cliff to Milford-on-Sea the estimated costs are in the order of £22m with a Government contribution of only £5m.
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