New strategy for managing flood and coastal risk between Hurst Spit and Lymington could see spit left and Dane Stream moved

HURST Spit will be left to the elements and Milford’s Dane Stream moved under proposals to manage erosion and flooding over the next century.

The strategy for managing flood and coastal risk between Hurst Spit and Lymington over the next 100 years is currently being developed by the Environment Agency, in partnership with New Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council, Natural England and JBA Consulting.

Describing the policy as a “balance of protecting people and properties, maintaining and enhancing the natural and historic environment and adapting to the challenges faced by climate change” the plans have been the subject of a series of recent public exhibitions.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Over the next 100 years this internationally designated part of the coastline, including low-lying sections of saltmarsh, mudflats, and vegetated shingle, will be under threat from sea level rise and coastal erosion.

”The Environment Agency and partners are developing options for how to respond to these challenges over the coming years and are keen to share these with the local community and develop a shared understanding.”

At Hurst Spit the draft plan is to reduce active management, eventually allowing the shingle formation to return to a more natural form. The existing shape of the spit will be maintained for the next 10 to 20 years, while work to reroute the opening of the Dane Stream and the provisions for access to Hurst Castle are planned and executed.

In the longer term there would be less intervention such as recharging shingle on the spit. The final stage of the plan would see any further intervention dropped.

Turning to the most densely populated area of the strategy in Lymington at the areas to the west, east and north of Lymington River, the plan is to maintain and strengthen existing coastal defences in the short term.

The plan states: “It is estimated that the improvement works will extend the life of the existing structures for a further 15 to 25 years. Following this, it is likely the defences will need replacing and raising over time to keep pace with sea level rise.”

Under the plans, the Keyhaven shoreline currently protected by Hurst Spit would also be realigned with salt marsh creation. The approach would see new embankments created further inland, with the old defences then be breached to allow the land in between to flood and transition to intertidal habitat. The EA says this approach would reduce flood risk to properties and infrastructure.

At Avon Water – north of Keyhaven Yacht Club – the strategy is to set back and upgrade the current coastal defences. The EA says there will be no major changes for 10 to 20 years while the compensation habitat is created. The sluice gates at the opening of Avon Water would then be removed allowing tidal water to travel upstream.

The plan continues: “In removing the sluice gates, the new defences on the east and west upstream bank of the Avon Water would be required to manage potential flood risk from the interaction between river and tidal waters.”

The walls around the quay at Keyhaven would also be raised and strengthened over time.

The plan for the eastern coastal area of Keyhaven toward Pennington is managed realignment with salt marsh creation – with new coastal defences constructed further inland and the old defences then allowed to breach.

The plan states: “It should be noted that this alignment will better protect the closed landfill at Efford and the historic Pennington landfill from coastal erosion.”

Finally the proposals for the coastal area from Normandy to Salterns will be a combination of managed realignment with saltmarsh creation and ‘hold the line’.

The strategy states: “Due to the high conservation value of Normandy Lagoon, in the short-term realignment of defences is limited to land south of Lymington Yacht Haven adjacent to the existing lagoon.”

The old defences would then be breached to allow the land in between to flood and become an intertidal habitat, offering “better protection” to properties and infrastructure.

Where managed realignment is not possible the defences will be built up over time to provide continuing protection.

Once agreed the strategy will lead to a series of projects to be delivered over the next 100 years. As well as a number of public engagement sessions, the coastal strategy team has been meeting with key stakeholders including English Heritage, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, RSPB and the team steering the neighbouring strategy covering Christchurch Bay and harbour.

The public have until January 11th 2025 to have a say on the draft proposals. To find out more visit www.hurstspit2lymington.co.uk