Over £500k secured to develop new habitat at Hook Lake

Coastal Partners, a Hampshire based partnership of local authorities aimed at managing the areas coastline, has secured £556,000 from Defra Grant.

The money is set to be used to commence a two-year study focusing on the future management of Hook Lake and opportunities to create new habitat at the site.

The Solent coastline is said to be facing "significant pressure" from rising sea levels, more frequent and bigger storms, and increased flood and erosion risk and as a result, important coastal habitats such as saltmarshes are slowly being lost.

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Hook Lake in Fareham has now been chosen as a potential area to create new coastal habitat to offset these losses in the Hamble Estuary and the wider Solent.

Councillor Simon Martin, Fareham Borough Council Executive Member for Planning and Development, said he is "delighted" funding has been secured for the study.

He added: "Creating new habitats here will enable other coastal defence projects in the Borough to progress in the future and at the same time allow continued enjoyment of this coastline for years to come."

The Hook Lake Coastal Management Study will look to maximise the potential benefits for nearby residents and wildlife to ensure the lake remains a "special place".

The creation of the habitat is said to be a "legal requirement" and will help to offset habitat losses from new defence schemes.

The study will explore the potential for creating new habitats, look at wider recreation opportunities and develop preliminary designs for a scheme.