The coastal policy varies along the south coast of Hayling Island; from a ‘Hold the Line’ policy at the east and central areas of the island, to an area of ‘natural evolution’ at West Beach and Gunner Point. This, and decisions taken by Havant Borough Council regarding this policy, determine whether the structures are maintained or removed when they become significantly damaged.

The groynes at West Beach were primarily removed due to the considerable health and safety risk they posed from their condition at the time, however the decision not to replace them is driven by the policy for the site. In line with the policy, coastal defence structures at this location are not to be replaced at the current time.

Beach recycling is the process of taking shingle where it has built up to an area where it has been lost. Eastoke has beach recycling because reduces the risk of flooding to the homes there. Its location makes Eastoke eligible for additional government funding.

The Havant Borough Council policy for the sea defences at West Beach is to remove life expired structures as they become a health and safety risk. The revetments and timber groynes in front of the beach huts and car park were built in 1974, had become dilapidated and were a significant health and safety risk to the public and to navigation; therefore, the decision was taken to remove them.

In line with the policy, coastal defence structures at this location are not to be replaced at the current time.

Predicting the response of the coast is both challenging and prone to uncertainty, particularly down drift of coastal structures and near complex harbour inlets. In 2017 the predicted beach response at West Beach under a ‘managed scenario’ was estimated to help inform future land use and development. This assumed annual beach recycling from Gunner Point, thereby creating a haul route in front of West Beach.  These predictions were based on the actual retreat of the beach crest following removal of the first section of the timber revetment for the period  2012 to 2017. This was projected landward, after which the average rate of annual erosion was applied. Sea level rise was also added to this average rate, based on the well known Brunn rule, leading to a series of risk zone predictions over the next 100 years.  

In reviewing the response of the beach since 2017, this approach was found to be less reliable. Therefore in 2020 the erosion risk zones were replaced with a series of Adaptation Zones which are presented in the following figure and will inform future land use planning at West Beach over the next 100 years. 

In line with the policy, coastal defence structures at this location are not to be replaced at the current time.

The Coastal Partners carry out routine surveys and monitoring of the beaches at South Hayling, include the West Beach Car Park. Two different types of survey are carried out in front of the beach huts: profile data and baseline data. Profile data is collected twice a year (Spring and Autumn) and consists of data collected on set profile lines from the car park edge to the Mean Low Water Spring level. Baseline data is collected once a year, in the Spring, and involves the full beach being surveyed to collect levels. This allows us to build a ground model showing the full extent and levels of the beach and the beach crest position.

Our routine beach surveys show that erosion has occurred at a greater rate than we had expected in the 2017 predictions (figure below). However, the beach has remained more stable at the end near the Golf Course. The erosion scenario considered in 2017 was that we would build a haul route in front of West Beach to access material from Gunner Point as part of our annual beach recycling works at Eastoke. This was not possible in 2019 due to a lack of suitable material at Gunner Point, and therefore we would expect erosion to be greater in 2019 than that anticipated in the 2017 erosion scenario. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence from the SCOPAC Storm Analysis project that swell events may have been worse in frequency and severity since 2013/14, thereby causing increased erosion at sites such as West Beach. We will continue to monitor these trends. 

In reviewing the response of the beach since 2017, this approach was found to be less reliable. Therefore in 2020 the erosion risk zones were replaced with a series of Adaptation Zones which are presented in the following figure and will inform future land use planning at West Beach over the next 100 years. 

In line with the policy, coastal defence structures at this location are not to be replaced at the current time.

The Environment Agency funding awarded to HBC is to manage flood risk at Eastoke, through the recycling and import of shingle. The shingle is placed on the beach at Eastoke to help reduce flood and erosion risk to the high number of properties and residents here. The funding cannot be used for the maintenance of coastal structures. Funding for routine maintenance of coastal structures is sourced from HBC.

Should future development of West Beach be considered, the results of coastal monitoring at this site and the coastal risk zones will need to be taken in to account before any decisions are made.

The beach can be subject to ‘cliffing’ of the compacted ground which needs careful management. If trimmed to a slope, the next stormy period will wash the loose material away and it will quickly reform into a new cliff, increasing the rate of erosion.  If left, natural process are likely to breakdown and rework the cliffing, but this can take time.

NORSE SE operatives conduct daily patrols on Hayling seafront. Debris on the foreshore will be removed where possible to manage the risk to the public.

The car park surfacing, and maintenance of beach huts, is the responsibility of Norse SE.  The beach huts are set back from the beach due to the storms and high tides to ensure public safety and to avoid their loss. The erosion of West Beach is monitored daily to ensure the beach huts are not placed at risk. The repositioning of the beach huts following stormy weather is also carried out by Norse SE.

Our summer car park at West Beach has approval from Natural England to be used April – September every year. The car park is periodically re-dressed and pot holes are removed. The West Beach car park is not allowed to be surfaced or drainage installed as it is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). And will be closed during period of heavy rain or wave overtopping. 

Find the list of car parks here: www.havant.gov.uk/beachlands

The long-term management of the beach huts and future provision at this site is currently sitting with Norse SE and other council teams. The Local Plan sets out West Beach as a regeneration zone in a regeneration area, and therefore plans may develop in line with the Local Plan and Seafront Ambition document.

The importance of the Inn on the Beach in managing the wider coastline is recognised in the draft Hayling Island Coastal Management Strategy, which highlights that it currently acts as a terminal structure which allows sediment to accumulate to the east.  As such, the strategy advises it is necessary to either maintain the existing defences at Inn on the Beach or replace them with other structures to continue to enable sediment to accumulate along the eastern seafront. The Strategy and its Action Plan are due to be presented to Council for approval in Summer 2024. 

The Coastal Strategy will include adaptive pathways to allow us to more flexibility to manage risks and adapt to changing conditions over time. For example, if landowners wish to maintain or implement (and fund) their defences in the future, the Strategy does not preclude this. Ahead of the strategy approval, the council is exploring opportunities for collaborative working with the landowners at West Beach to develop a joint adaptation plan.

Should future development of West Beach be considered, the results of coastal monitoring at this site and the coastal risk zones will need to be taken in to account before any decisions are made.