New Forest District Council has appointed a firm of specialist consulting engineers, in partnership with a Winchester-based architect, to design, project manage and oversee the construction of 119 replacement beach huts at Milford on Sea. Ramboll UK Ltd and Snug Architects were chosen from six tender submissions after a rigorous evaluation process.
The partnership, with the council, has already met a beach hut owners group (on 20 July) and will be holding a community event in Milford in August to discuss what owners and beach-users want to see in the design.
The council’s environment portfolio holder Councillor Sophie Beeton said;
We’re determined that the design of the huts and the promenade will reflect the needs and wishes of local people and visitors to our coast. The consultants’ commitment to listening and reflecting those needs in their design was one of the factors in the award of the contract
A range of information-gathering activities will run during the summer and investigations into the integrity of the concrete slab and sea wall will begin in August. The consultants are expected to present several design options to a panel of councillors, officers and beach hut owners’ representatives in the autumn. The panel will decide which option will be developed to be taken forward as a planning application.
Ramboll are an international consulting engineering firm which works on projects in sectors ranging from education and healthcare to maritime and transport. William Brook-Hart of Ramboll and Paul Bulkeley of Snug Architects will lead the design project. In response to the contract award they commented;
Ramboll and Snug Architects look forward to working closely with New Forest District Council to develop a design that enhances the waterfront experience for beach hut owners and visitors. Our approach will balance visual elegance, sitting comfortably with the surroundings, and the need for a robust and durable solution that can withstand future storms and wave impacts.
The council recently completed the demolition of the damaged concrete beach huts. Milford promenade and beach are now clear and open to the public for the duration of the summer.