A MULTI-million-pound attempt to save one of the south’s biggest sailing centres has won a top award.

Engineers have embarked on a 30-year project to build two huge breakwaters either side of the entrance to the Lymington River following coastal erosion and the loss of saltmarsh.

The barriers aim to secure the future of Lymington Harbour, which generates about £100m annually for the local economy and supports 1,000 jobs.

Now the scheme has been honoured by The Crown Estate, which owns more than half the UK’s foreshore.

Lymington Harbour Commissioners have won the organisation’s annual coastal business award for their attempt to keep nature at bay and safeguard the sailing mecca.

A Crown Estate spokesman said: “Since the 1920s the saltmarsh has suffered erosion caused by rising sea levels and natural wave action, resulting in the harbour becoming increasingly exposed.

"Nine years ago the commissioners started working on a comprehensive solution to protect the harbour.

“Following extensive consultation and numerous environmental studies, they identified that the preferred solution was to build stone breakwaters either side of the river. These will provide shelter to the harbour and will also afford protection to the saltmarsh.”

The first stage of the project was completed in 2010 at a cost of £1.4m.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the breakwaters will be built and subsequently extended in a six-phase scheme over the next three decades. The commissioners are also hoping to replenish the saltmarsh using sediment from dredging and have already staged successful trials.

Ryan Willegers, harbourmaster and chief executive of the commissioners, welcomed the award.

“Winning is a great achievement that will provide renewed encouragement to all those involved in our continuing effort to protect the harbour for future generations,” he said.

Ken Jones, director of the rural and coastal portfolio at The Crown Estate, hailed the commissioners’ work as an excellent example of forward thinking.