Strategy Overview

STRATEGY VISION

A sustainable future for Hurst Spit to Lymington area for the next 100 years: enabling communities, the environment, wildlife, heritage, recreation, tourism, and business to adapt to climate change and sea level rise.


STRATEGY OBJECTIVES

  1. Provide greater resilience to communities, property and infrastructure by managing the risk of flooding and erosion, while providing adaptability to climate change to 2124.
  2. Protect and enhance the natural environment and wildlife as well as support natural processes.
  3. Promote Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) solutions in ways that contribute to carbon reduction including solutions with potential to capture and store carbon through habitat creation.
  4. Maintain and enhance social, recreational, commercial, economic, heritage and cultural benefits through working with stakeholders.
  5. Implement the Strategy, including a programme of works over the short /medium term that is achievable and affordable


STRATEGY OVERVIEW

The Hurst Spit to Lymington Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Strategy is exploring a sustainable future for the coastline between Hurst Spit and Lymington in relation to all sources of flooding and coastal erosion.

This is being developed by the Environment Agency, in partnership with New Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council, Natural England and with technical support from JBA Consulting.

The aim of the Strategy is to recommend options to manage flood and erosion risk that are sustainable and adaptive in the long term. It will focus on the next 100 years, with the aim of having a completed and approved Strategy by summer 2026.

The Strategy is a chance to help manage the change for the better. On completion and adoption of the Strategy a clear programme of projects will be recommended to be delivered on the ground.


STRATEGY AREA

The Strategy covers the coastline from Hurst Spit to Lymington, 15km of coastal frontage encompassing Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes, extending up the Lymington River to the east.

The Strategy will consider internationally designated habitats including low-lying sections of environmentally designated saltmarsh, mudflats and vegetated shingle which characterise the area and are of international importance. The area is also rich in cultural and historical heritage including Hurst Castle. For these reasons the area attracts numerous visitors and recreational users for activities such as walking and sailing. These factors along with the beautiful landscape and natural processes will be a key consideration as part of the Strategy.

We hope this Strategy will be an opportunity to protect, strengthen and enhance the environment in this area for future generations.


Green dotted line shows the coastline within the Strategy.


CHRISTCHURCH BAY AND HARBOUR STRATEGY

The Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy borders the Hurst Spit to Lymington Strategy and although both are defined by geographical boundaries, coastal dynamics don’t work this way. The two strategies are linked by Hurst Spit, an important feature and landmark of the area. By working collaboratively, Hurst Spit can be integrated into both strategies. The collaboration between the two teams will jointly guide how the coastal frontage may be sustainably managed to protect coastal communities and natural environments from tidal flooding and erosion risk for the next 100 years. Further detail about the Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy can be accessed Christchurch Bay and Harbour FCERM Strategy 2021-2024 - Poole & Christchurch Bays Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management.


STRATEGY MANAGEMENT UNITS

As the Strategy area is so large and complex and in order to support the work going forward we have split the coastline into smaller sections known as Management Units (MUs).

The map below shows the outline of the Management Unit areas which will be referred to as the Strategy develops, please note these are just indicative areas.


STRATEGY VISION

A sustainable future for Hurst Spit to Lymington area for the next 100 years: enabling communities, the environment, wildlife, heritage, recreation, tourism, and business to adapt to climate change and sea level rise.


STRATEGY OBJECTIVES

  1. Provide greater resilience to communities, property and infrastructure by managing the risk of flooding and erosion, while providing adaptability to climate change to 2124.
  2. Protect and enhance the natural environment and wildlife as well as support natural processes.
  3. Promote Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) solutions in ways that contribute to carbon reduction including solutions with potential to capture and store carbon through habitat creation.
  4. Maintain and enhance social, recreational, commercial, economic, heritage and cultural benefits through working with stakeholders.
  5. Implement the Strategy, including a programme of works over the short /medium term that is achievable and affordable


STRATEGY OVERVIEW

The Hurst Spit to Lymington Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Strategy is exploring a sustainable future for the coastline between Hurst Spit and Lymington in relation to all sources of flooding and coastal erosion.

This is being developed by the Environment Agency, in partnership with New Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council, Natural England and with technical support from JBA Consulting.

The aim of the Strategy is to recommend options to manage flood and erosion risk that are sustainable and adaptive in the long term. It will focus on the next 100 years, with the aim of having a completed and approved Strategy by summer 2026.

The Strategy is a chance to help manage the change for the better. On completion and adoption of the Strategy a clear programme of projects will be recommended to be delivered on the ground.


STRATEGY AREA

The Strategy covers the coastline from Hurst Spit to Lymington, 15km of coastal frontage encompassing Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes, extending up the Lymington River to the east.

The Strategy will consider internationally designated habitats including low-lying sections of environmentally designated saltmarsh, mudflats and vegetated shingle which characterise the area and are of international importance. The area is also rich in cultural and historical heritage including Hurst Castle. For these reasons the area attracts numerous visitors and recreational users for activities such as walking and sailing. These factors along with the beautiful landscape and natural processes will be a key consideration as part of the Strategy.

We hope this Strategy will be an opportunity to protect, strengthen and enhance the environment in this area for future generations.


Green dotted line shows the coastline within the Strategy.


CHRISTCHURCH BAY AND HARBOUR STRATEGY

The Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy borders the Hurst Spit to Lymington Strategy and although both are defined by geographical boundaries, coastal dynamics don’t work this way. The two strategies are linked by Hurst Spit, an important feature and landmark of the area. By working collaboratively, Hurst Spit can be integrated into both strategies. The collaboration between the two teams will jointly guide how the coastal frontage may be sustainably managed to protect coastal communities and natural environments from tidal flooding and erosion risk for the next 100 years. Further detail about the Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy can be accessed Christchurch Bay and Harbour FCERM Strategy 2021-2024 - Poole & Christchurch Bays Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management.


STRATEGY MANAGEMENT UNITS

As the Strategy area is so large and complex and in order to support the work going forward we have split the coastline into smaller sections known as Management Units (MUs).

The map below shows the outline of the Management Unit areas which will be referred to as the Strategy develops, please note these are just indicative areas.


Page last updated: 31 Mar 2025, 02:53 PM