Technical Resources

The development of the Strategy involves a considerable amount of research, evidence based assessments and data collection by a range of technical experts and consultants. As a result, a number of technical reports have been produced on a variety of areas including;

  • Modelling
  • Environmental surveys

Within this page you can find a range of resources to explore, the list of documents below can be accessed on the right hand side.

These reports have been written for a technical audience to help inform the Strategy. It may be that some of the assessments/ reports on this page have now been superseded by further work undertaken but not yet published.

Many of these reports have been used to establish a baseline which has helped inform development of the Draft Pathways, therefore there is no one single document that has influenced the pathways but a combination of work done, guidance received and expert knowledge of the team.

Further reports will be shared as the Strategy develops.

Modelling

1. Independent Expert Geomorphological Panel Report

The remit of the panel was to answer the following question: What is the range and most likely future development of Hurst Spit over the next 10, 50 and 100 years if maintenance and recharge are withdrawn now, and what impacts could this have on the wider Western Solent coasts? Both the full and summary report are available to view.

2. Do Nothing Summary Report

This document summarises the understanding of what would happen to the coastline if management of the coastal defences is withdrawn from the Strategy area.

3. Coastal Modelling Reports

These reports outline coastal numerical models that have been developed and used to inform the coastal processes assessments. Details of the model source, build, calibration, validation, and application are provided alongside baseline results for use within the complimentary coastal processes and Do Nothing assessments. The results provide an overview of the storm wave climate and tidal regime within the Strategy area using the existing geometry of Hurst Spit and the surrounding saltmarsh.

4. Further Options Modelling

This report presents the outcomes of hydraulic modelling that has been undertaken to develop the Leading Options for the Strategy.

THE ALIGNMENT OF ANY NEW DEFENCES INDICATED IN THIS REPORT ARE THEORECTICAL TO INFORM THE MODELLING ONLY. THESE ARE NOT CONFIRMED EXTENTS OF POTENTIAL MANAGED REALIGNMENT LOACATIONS, AND ANY ALIGNMENT WILL BE CONFIRMED AT DETAILED DESIGN PHASE OF INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.

5. **NEW** Wave Transformation Modelling

This piece of work explored the influence of Hurst Spit on flood risk. In particular to address two key points:

  • What could be the flood risk impacts of the 14 February 2014 event if the barrier was lower than present and in a less continuous form?
  • What could be the impact of an event larger than the 14th February 2014, if the barrier was lower than present and in a less continuous form, with future increased sea levels?

The Strategy Team acknowledge there may be other impacts e.g. moorings, which will be explored as the Strategy and future projects progress.

This report is just one piece of evidence that will be used in developing the final pathway

Environment

1. Bird Reports

Details the results of bird surveys carried out between Hurst Spit and Lymington.

2. Statutory Assessments

The following are initial documents for these statutory assessments, as further stages progress more will be shared. The Environmental Report which is the final output of the Strategic Environmental Assessment will be available as part of the formal consultation in 2026.


General

1. Residual Life Assessment 2022.

Provides an understanding of the condition of the coastal defence assets to recognise the residual life of existing structures and inform future management interventions.

2. Long List to Short Options

This report provides an overview of the initial options identified for the Strategy, how these were progressed to long list appraisal, and the reasons for rejecting the options which have not been progressed to the short list.

3. The Management Units 2023

The Strategy area has been subdivided into nine individual management units, areas with broadly similar characteristics. The use of management units will facilitate a targeted approach to flood risk management so that interventions can be aligned with spatial and temporal flood risk evolution. This report outlines how the management units were established and provides details about each one.

The development of the Strategy involves a considerable amount of research, evidence based assessments and data collection by a range of technical experts and consultants. As a result, a number of technical reports have been produced on a variety of areas including;

  • Modelling
  • Environmental surveys

Within this page you can find a range of resources to explore, the list of documents below can be accessed on the right hand side.

These reports have been written for a technical audience to help inform the Strategy. It may be that some of the assessments/ reports on this page have now been superseded by further work undertaken but not yet published.

Many of these reports have been used to establish a baseline which has helped inform development of the Draft Pathways, therefore there is no one single document that has influenced the pathways but a combination of work done, guidance received and expert knowledge of the team.

Further reports will be shared as the Strategy develops.

Modelling

1. Independent Expert Geomorphological Panel Report

The remit of the panel was to answer the following question: What is the range and most likely future development of Hurst Spit over the next 10, 50 and 100 years if maintenance and recharge are withdrawn now, and what impacts could this have on the wider Western Solent coasts? Both the full and summary report are available to view.

2. Do Nothing Summary Report

This document summarises the understanding of what would happen to the coastline if management of the coastal defences is withdrawn from the Strategy area.

3. Coastal Modelling Reports

These reports outline coastal numerical models that have been developed and used to inform the coastal processes assessments. Details of the model source, build, calibration, validation, and application are provided alongside baseline results for use within the complimentary coastal processes and Do Nothing assessments. The results provide an overview of the storm wave climate and tidal regime within the Strategy area using the existing geometry of Hurst Spit and the surrounding saltmarsh.

4. Further Options Modelling

This report presents the outcomes of hydraulic modelling that has been undertaken to develop the Leading Options for the Strategy.

THE ALIGNMENT OF ANY NEW DEFENCES INDICATED IN THIS REPORT ARE THEORECTICAL TO INFORM THE MODELLING ONLY. THESE ARE NOT CONFIRMED EXTENTS OF POTENTIAL MANAGED REALIGNMENT LOACATIONS, AND ANY ALIGNMENT WILL BE CONFIRMED AT DETAILED DESIGN PHASE OF INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.

5. **NEW** Wave Transformation Modelling

This piece of work explored the influence of Hurst Spit on flood risk. In particular to address two key points:

  • What could be the flood risk impacts of the 14 February 2014 event if the barrier was lower than present and in a less continuous form?
  • What could be the impact of an event larger than the 14th February 2014, if the barrier was lower than present and in a less continuous form, with future increased sea levels?

The Strategy Team acknowledge there may be other impacts e.g. moorings, which will be explored as the Strategy and future projects progress.

This report is just one piece of evidence that will be used in developing the final pathway

Environment

1. Bird Reports

Details the results of bird surveys carried out between Hurst Spit and Lymington.

2. Statutory Assessments

The following are initial documents for these statutory assessments, as further stages progress more will be shared. The Environmental Report which is the final output of the Strategic Environmental Assessment will be available as part of the formal consultation in 2026.


General

1. Residual Life Assessment 2022.

Provides an understanding of the condition of the coastal defence assets to recognise the residual life of existing structures and inform future management interventions.

2. Long List to Short Options

This report provides an overview of the initial options identified for the Strategy, how these were progressed to long list appraisal, and the reasons for rejecting the options which have not been progressed to the short list.

3. The Management Units 2023

The Strategy area has been subdivided into nine individual management units, areas with broadly similar characteristics. The use of management units will facilitate a targeted approach to flood risk management so that interventions can be aligned with spatial and temporal flood risk evolution. This report outlines how the management units were established and provides details about each one.

Page last updated: 11 Apr 2025, 12:59 PM