No Funding Available to Repair Hurst Spit

Multiple storms during February significantly damaged Hurst Spit, narrowing the width of some areas on top of the shingle bank.

Picture by Chris Runeckles

It has now been reported that New Forest District Council do not have the money to carry out repairs and they are approaching landowners and organisations with an interest in Hurst Spit for financial support.

As the Hurst Spit to Lymington Strategy currently stands, the draft plan is to maintain the existing shape of Hurst Spit for the next 10 to 20 years. After which, active management would be reduced, 'eventually allowing the shingle formation to return to a more natural form'.

The statement above indicates that Hurst Spit would continue to be maintained for now, but it is unclear who would provide the funding, hence NFDC's current position.

Hurst Spit to Lymington Strategy. To find out more, please visit:

www.hurstspit2lymington.co.uk

To discover how SLAK are fighting to Save Hurst Spit, please click here.

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Hurst Spit Survey

Sir Desmond Swayne, MP for New Forest West, is running a short, confidential survey to gather constituents’ opinions on the Environment Agency’s management of Hurst Spit to help shape local policy responses. 

To complete the survey, please click here.

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Who Owns Hurst Spit

Hurst Spit does not have a single, straightforward owner due to its complex status as a natural feature, a historical site, and a protected area. 

The ownership and management of the spit involve multiple entities, reflecting its mixed public and private interests.

Hampshire County Council owns portions of the land, particularly areas tied to coastal management and public access. There are also privately owned sections of Hurst Spit. These sections come with significant restrictions in a highly protected area with strict planning regulations that limit development.

Public rights of way also complicate ownership. 

The spit’s designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) further imposes environmental protections, limiting what any owner, public or private, can do with the land.

The majority of Hurst Spit is managed as part of the public domain, with significant oversight from governmental and conservation bodies. 

Historically, shingle replenishment and erosion control have been largely handled by the New Forest District Council and the Environment Agency.