NFDC will “seek contributions” from owners to cover cost of removing 46 beach huts at Hordle Cliff

A FURTHER 46 beach huts are set to be removed from Milford later this month after winter storm damage and erosion meant they were deemed unsafe.

As reported, owners of the effected huts in the eastern section of Hordle Cliff were contacted by NFDC in the spring and told the licenses would not be renewed in April.

A spokesperson for the council confirmed: “NFDC officers from the coastal team attempted to contact all 46 beach hut owners by telephone to advise of the decision to terminate their beach hut licence, this being in advance of formal termination letters being posted. The officers were successful in speaking to 43 of the owners.”

In 2024 a further 25 unsafe and damaged huts were removed by NFDC from the coastal beauty spot in a major operation which involved cranes and heavy machinery.

Beach huts are worth around £25,000 each, but once licences are terminated the owners have no option to replace them.

Owners pay an annual licence fee to NFDC of between £662 and £956 for their hut at Hordle Cliff, but are responsible for all repairs and maintenance.

NFDC does not have a statutory duty to undertake and deliver flood and coastal erosion risk management measures at coastal sites. There are no defences at Hordle Cliff; the authority has not undertaken any flood and coastal erosion risk management activities in that section of the coastline.

The spokesperson continued: ”We’re currently working through the procurement process to appoint a suitable contractor to undertake the work to remove the beach huts from the site.

“Once a contractor has been appointed, we’ll be in a position to confirm a timeline for the removal. This is currently anticipated to commence towards the end of July.”

The authority has also confirmed that impacted beach hut owners will be asked to pay toward the cost of removal work. The NFDC spokesperson confirmed: “We are not in a position to provide details of the contributions that will be requested from hut owners.

“Any contribution will be offset by any refund that may be due from the annual licence fee for loss of use of the hut. The coastal team continue to engage with hut owners in the planning of the hut removal work.”