Hurst Castle is a 16th-century artillery fort in Hampshire. (Image: Getty)
A built by could be permanently cut off from the mainland under new coastal rewilding plans aimed at tackling .
Hurst Castle, a 16th-century artillery fort in Hampshire, sits on Hurst Spit, a that protects parts of the Solent.
But under a £16 million strategy drawn up by the , parts of the coastline could be left to flood, allowing new salt marshes to form over time.
The plan involves realigning the landform, creating embankments, and letting the area take on a “more natural form” without intervention, reported.
But some locals fear this could erode the spit, cut off the castle permanently, and leave the nearby town of Lymington more exposed to the sea.
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If the plan goes ahead there are fears that the castle could be completely cut off from the mainland (Image: Getty)
Critics also say the scheme could dramatically reshape the coastline, putting and harbours at risk.
Dominic May, the director of Berthon Boat Company and part of the Save Lymington and Keyhaven (Slak) campaign, told : “Keyhaven River will be changed beyond all recognition, Hurst Castle will be cut off permanently from the shore.”
He added: “There will not be any place to shelter under Hurst as the swell and waves will pass over the shingle bank. Lymington Harbour as a whole will be at risk.”
The plan is still at the consultation stage, but there are concerns that parts of Hurst Spit could be breached, allowing tidal waters to flood the area.
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Hurst Castle was built in the 1540s by Henry VIII. (Image: Getty)
Rupert Wagstaff, the chairman of the Lymington Harbour Advisory Committee, warned that if this happens, the harbour could become fully exposed to the sea.
He said: “The only benefit of this plan is to create more salt marshes for the birds, but it would seem, at the detriment to everything and everyone else.”
However, the Environment Agency insists it has no plans to deliberately breach Hurst Spit but admits the coastline is under threat from rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
A spokesperson said: “Over the next 100 years, flood risk and coastal erosion will affect important habitats and heritage sites, including Hurst Castle.”
The castle has suffered from coastal erosion. (Image: Getty)
They added: “We’ve lost almost half of our salt marsh habitats in Hampshire since the 1970s. If we do nothing, they could all be gone inside 20 years.”
The agency is planning a full public consultation later this year, where residents and campaigners will be able to submit their views.
Hurst Castle, built in the 1540s by Henry VIII, has already suffered from coastal erosion, with part of its eastern wall collapsing in 2021.
Campaigners fear that if the Environment Agency’s plans go ahead, the castle could become a stranded island, cut off from the UK coast for good.