Latest news with #beachhuts
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Local council removes £1million cliffside beach huts at risk of falling into the sea
Work is underway to remove more than £1million worth of cliffside beach huts that are at risk of falling into the sea. The 43 wooden cabins huts at Hordle Cliff, Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire, were 'abandoned' to the elements by the local council after officials decided against shoring up sea defences. The huts, that are worth about £25,000 each, were battered by winter storms and left either badly damaged or at risk of falling into the sea. As it is not possible to take out insurance on the huts the owners have been left out of pocket. And to add insult to injury they are being asked to contribute for the work to remove them which requires machinery to winch them up and take them away. While people own the huts, they pay the council as land owner a licence of about £800 a year. This fee will be used to cover the costs of the removal work and those who were due a refund will have £300 taken out of it. Owners blame New Forest District Council's 'do nothing' approach to coastal erosion for the loss of their beloved huts. James and Helena Cox bought their hut in 2002. It has been deemed 'at risk' by the council and they were only told it would be removed in May. Mr Cox, a naval architect, had used his expertise to make his hut more secure from being battered by storms. He said: 'My family and myself are disappointed to lose it, although we were not surprised given the council's aversion to manage risk and general lack or will to find a workable solution. 'My hut wasn't damaged, or particularly at risk in my judgement. I deal with designing structures to survive environmental loading on a daily basis so I'm perfectly qualified to make this assessment' He said he secured his hut by driving galvanised scaffold poles into the shingle at each corner and secured them to the base of his hut. He also installed diagonal braces to resist wind and breaking waves. 'Since losing my original hut in the Valentines storm of 2014, I have not sustained any notable damage,' he added. 'Securing a beach hut to withstand storm force winds and waves overtopping the sea wall is simply an engineering problem, and not a particularly difficult one. 'The real reason our licences were revoked is because the council are risk averse and simply lack the will to manage the risks. 'They should have allowed the owners of huts inland of the sea wall to keep their huts at their own risk, while advising a basic level of securing the huts to the beach. 'I can deal with the storms, it was always NFDC I worried about.' Paul Major, of the New Forest Beach Hut Owner's Association, said: 'Having been in that situation, it is a massive loss, some owners have had their huts through the generations. 'There is nothing that can be done about saving the huts at Hordle Cliff. The toe of the cliff has been eroded away by the constant battering of the fierce seas'. Major explained that the cliff has become further unstable with the amount of rain that has soaked into the face and then been dried by the hot weather. 'There is nothing that can be done to halt the force of nature,' he said. 'There was requests made to the council over the years to permit some sort of sea defence and these have all been denied due to the policy within its Shoreline Management Plan.' Jeanie Medd and her sister Valerie Webb shared their hut which they inherited from their mother Freda Doe. It had been in the family for at least 40 years, but was damaged in Storm Herminia in January this year. She said: 'It was a hub for my family, it represents being with my mum. It is the end of an era really. 'It was really badly damaged in Storm Herminia - all the contents went, the door got washed off, it was horrible. As it is not possible to take out insurance on the huts the owners have been left out of pocket 'I was absolutely devastated. We had a close shave last year and patched it up but we knew it was on borrowed time. 'We've got used to the idea it was being removed now. We have been going down and sitting in the three walls that are left. And once they've removed it we will still go to that bit of beach'. Medd said she received a refund for the months after it was damaged but the cost of removal was deducted from the sum. 'We tried to do it ourselves but it was just impossible,' she added. 'I know there was a lot of people complaining, but I don't blame the council. We always knew this was a possibility.' The latest removal work comes after 31 huts were taken away from the same beach in June last year. New Forest District Council said it has no statutory duty to undertake coastal erosion risk management measures at any coastal site. The section at Hordle Cliff is undefended and any measures introduced would only slow, not stop erosion and would cost about £4million. The estimated costs for the wider frontage from Hordle Cliff to Milford-on-Sea would be about £22milliom. The council also said Storm Herminia in January this year was believed to be the strongest to hit the UK in at least ten years, causing a lot of erosion and cliff destabilisation. Geoffrey Blunden, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability at New Forest District Council, said: 'We have every sympathy with those who have experienced impacts at this very challenging coastal area and have actively engaged with hut owners and the New Forest Beach Hut Owners Association. 'Beach erosion and cliff movement caused by winter storms has damaged some beach huts and caused others at the eastern end of Hordle Cliff to be at greater risk from future storms. 'We advise anyone considering buying a beach hut or other asset on, or close to, the coast to consider the risk before purchasing. People are welcome to contact our coastal team to understand the risks.'
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Damaged beach huts to be removed by New Forest District Council
A council has begun work to remove 43 cliffside beach huts that have been damaged or are at risk due to erosion and cliff Forest District Council (NFDC) has closed the site of the huts at the eastern section at Hordle Cliff, Milford on Sea, during the removal work is expected to take up to three weeks and will see contractors use land-based machinery to bring some of the huts up to Paddy's Gap for relocation or local authority said it has terminated some beach hut licences, when relocation was not possible. It added that under the licence conditions, the removal of a beach hut from the site is the responsibility of the council said the operation has been funded by beach hut income and contributions from the beach hut owners. Councillor Geoffrey Blunden, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability with NFDC, said: "We have every sympathy with those who have experienced impacts at this very challenging coastal area and have actively engaged with hut owners and the New Forest Beach Hut Owners Association."Beach erosion and cliff movement caused by winter storms has damaged some beach huts and caused others at the eastern end of Hordle Cliff to be at greater risk from future storms."We advise anyone considering buying a beach hut or other asset on, or close to, the coast to consider the risk before purchasing. "People are welcome to contact our coastal team to understand the risks." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
How you can still buy a cheap beach hut
First appearing on our beaches in the 18th century as wheeled bathing machines pulled into the sea, modern-day beach huts are highly sought after, changing hands for tens of thousands of pounds and even more. Their limited numbers, many handed down through generations, have driven prices skyward since the 1990s. The most extreme example is on the Dorset headland of Hengistbury Head. On the odd occasion huts do come to market, sellers price them between £350,000 and £500,000 such is the exclusivity of the area and scarcity of beach huts. 'Modern beach huts have been around in the form we recognise for more than a century and a quarter,' said Dr Kathryn Ferry, author of 20th Century Seaside Architecture. 'They are part of the backdrop to our seaside holidays, they're bright and colourful, photogenic and quintessentially British.' While local councils have added a small number of huts to the overall stock, there remains only around 30,000 in the country, said Dr Ferry. 'That is a pretty small number when you consider how much coastline we have,' she added. But you don't need to drop half a million on a hut. There are ways you can cut costs – Telegraph Money explains how. 1. Compromise on location Just like when buying a home, location is everything. The best way to shave the most off the price of your beach hut is to avoid the most popular and exclusive resorts and keep your eye out for areas undergoing redevelopment or lesser-known neighbouring villages. The Essex coastline is a prime example of how much prices can vary depending on which stretch of the beach you have your eye on, said Jo Lowery, founder of beach hut hire company Cool Coastal Huts. 'Frinton has always been the most expensive and has a posher label to it than Clacton and Walton, which are cheaper and sit on either side. But you're still getting the same golden sandy beach,' said Jo, who owns five huts in Essex. 'Walton used to be quite run down but now it's up-and-coming, making it a good place to invest in a beach hut.' At the time of writing you can buy a beach hut near Clacton for £32,500 whereas one in Frinton will set you back around £50,000. On the Sussex coast in Brighton, choosing the quieter spot of Lancing over Hove's busy seafront could save you money. Over in Suffolk, buyers are likely to pay less for a hut in Lowestoft (£35,000 at the time of writing) than Southwold (£135,000). 2. Pick a fixer-upper The condition of the hut has the second biggest influence over price, after location. Some huts are empty shells or have a basic fit of benches and a stove compared to luxury huts which can resemble small apartments with kitchenettes. Others have fallen into disrepair, particularly if an owner has struggled to keep up with the external maintenance of the wood which is prone to rot. For a hut in need of complete repair and modernisation, you can expect to pay £6,000 to bring it up to basic standard, driven up by the high cost of timber, and up to £12,000 for a more luxurious finish. Because they are in high demand, beach huts tend to hold their value, according to Insure My, so there's a decent chance you will make back at least the money you invest. 3. Go for the second row Many beaches have rows of huts with the front row claiming the best, uninterrupted view of the shoreline. However, huts on the second row can be up to half the price while benefitting from more privacy. They are often elevated too, accessed by wooden stairs, which means that you are not necessarily forfeiting the sea view. 4. Forgo amenities Beach huts typically do not have running water, which makes being close to showers, toilets and a tap to fill up a kettle all desirable features. Choosing a hut that is further away from the toilet could give you extra bargaining power to drive down the price. 5. Share with family or friends Club together to buy a beach hut with your family or friends and strike up a private time-share agreement allocating a particular month or fortnight to each. Avoid fights breaking out by rotating the weeks each year to make it fair. By clubbing together, you can also share the cost of the annual licence fee and upkeep. 6. Avoid agents Beach huts are marketed by local estate agents and will pop up on the Rightmove and Zoopla portals. But a trick to getting the best price is to walk up and down the beach front keeping your eye out for signs stuck to the front of huts advertising they are for sale privately. Hire a hut and speak to the neighbours to find out if they know of any owners who are considering selling up. Sellers are more willing to do a deal if they can avoid paying thousands of pounds to an estate agent. 7. Try before you buy Avoid making any costly mistakes by hiring a beach hut first. That way you can try out different stretches of a coastline to find out which location suits you the best. If you are looking to save money by compromising on the location, it is worth spending some time in the place you find to make sure you enjoy it. It is also a good opportunity to test how long it takes you to get there. Like purchase prices, beach hut rental costs vary greatly depending on size and location. They can range from around £50 a day to over £100 in sought-after areas.
Telegraph
22-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘We can't sell our £400k Dorset beach huts – and it's the council's fault'
The owners of Britain's most expensive beach huts have blamed the council for making the properties less desirable to potential buyers. Eight wooden huts with a combined value of £3.8 million have gone up for sale at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset. The huts range in price from £395,000 to £439,000 – more than the average UK house price. The properties often sell extremely quickly because of their exclusive location and sea views. Last year, one sold for £485,000 in less than 24 hours. The unusually high number currently on the market has prompted concerns that the tide may be turning on a once lucrative market. Financially-struggling Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (BCP) has been accused of using beach hut owners as 'cash cows'. The annual hut licence fee has increased by 30 per cent in the past two years to £3,240, with another 5 per cent rise planned for next year. This is in addition to the £23,100 transfer fee. Stephen Bath, who owns one of the 346 huts at Mudeford, said: 'The council uses the beach huts as a cash cow because they are in dire financial circumstances. 'I think that's what's caused people to try to sell up, hereditary owners who can't afford the rent hikes. 'The council are getting cheeky – they don't care who's paying the rent. Plus people who have bought more recently, out of towners, are also thinking it is getting ridiculous. It costs more to stay at the beach than it would to stay at somewhere like Claridge's.' Earlier this month, BCP warned it would be forced to issue a section 114 notice, a formal declaration of effective bankruptcy, without more direction from the Government on how to tackle the severe cash flow crisis associated with its growing special educational needs and disability deficit. Richard Herrett, the council's portfolio holder for leisure and destination, said the rental income for its beach huts enable it to reinvest in 'crucial front-line services that residents rely on each day – such as adult social care and children's services'. The council said the five-year pricing structure, introduced in 2022, simplified the service 'allowing everyone to know the annual cost of beach huts until 2027/28'. He added: 'Despite increasing financial constraints which many local authorities face, as a result of national pressures, the council has remained committed to that transparent pricing strategy and will do so into the future.'
Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Telegraph
Drunken sailors will ruin our exclusive sandbank, say beach hut owners
Owners of Britain's most expensive beach huts fear their exclusive Dorset sandbank setting will be destroyed by drunken sailors using a new floating bar and restaurant. Hutters at Mudeford Spit, in Christchurch, say they are worried that a 'rabble of party-goers' will ruin their idyll. They fear the seaborne venue will result in anti-social behaviour, late night noise and drunken revellers falling into the sea. And with just one lavatory on board, there are concerns that revellers will end up urinating over the side. The beach huts on the sandy peninsula can sell for up to £500,000 because of its exclusive, remote location. Virginia Hazell-Trickett, of the Christchurch Harbour Kitchen, wants to moor up the floating restaurant and bar in the harbour just off the sandbank. The 30ft by 30ft motorised venue will be accessed by a gangplank with handrails. She has applied to the local council for a licence to play music from 8am to 11pm every day and serve alcohol from 11am to 11pm. There will be a kitchen in the middle with seating and tables around the outside. A decision will be made by the council next week, but the application has received 37 letters of objection from locals and hut owners. As well as anti-social behaviour, objectors say the venture will also encourage people to drink and cycle home as cars are banned from the sandbank. One objector said: 'I have grave concerns that the very nature of the sandbank, and the reason so many people choose to have a beach hut there, is likely to be destroyed forever if this was allowed. 'The relative tranquillity when the day trippers have gone home gives a whole new aspect to life on the coast. It is likely to be destroyed by the rabble of party-goers rushing for the experience of an evening on a floating restaurant in our midst. 'Why music? Why alcohol? Both likely to encourage rowdiness in the exuberance of the party-goers and we all know how sound travels over the water. 'These are unlikely to be the quiet couples wanting a new experience eating afloat in the harbour.' Another hut owner said: 'More people would be enticed to come to the sandbank for the bar, potentially creating more drunken and anti-social behaviour. 'Also, the fact that it is a floating bar with a dropped gangplank in the sea is a concern for safety with potentially drunk people on board.' Mrs Hazell-Trickett's council application said there will be railings all the way round the floating barge for safety and CCTV cameras will be installed. There will also be signs telling customers to leave the premises quietly. Mrs Hazell-Trickett has been approached for comment.
