King Charles III England Coast Path: South Hayling to East Head
Find out about the progress of improving coastal access – including maps, process and timing – in Hampshire and West Sussex.
Map of the stretch
Natural England has begun to investigate how to improve coastal access along a 78 km stretch of the Hampshire and West Sussex coast between Hayling Island and East Head.
Officers from local access authorities are providing Natural England with expert local advice and helping to make sure there is full consultation with local interests during the development of the route.
Stage of progress
Stage 4: Determine
On 3 October 2019, Natural England submitted a collection of reports to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs setting out the proposals for improved access to the coast between South Hayling and East Head.
The period for making representations and objections about the reports closed at midnight, Thursday 28 November 2019. The reports are still available to view.
Objections are forwarded for consideration by an independent planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The inspector will make recommendations to the Secretary of State in respect of each one.
Natural England may not make any further changes to the reports as a result of the representations and objections, but will make comments about them for consideration by the Secretary of State and, in the case of objections, the appointed person (an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate).
The Secretary of State will consider all the representations and objections before making a decision about Natural England’s reports. The reports in the collection may get approval at the same time. Some of them may need further consideration.
You can see the current status of the collection in the table.
| Report number and title | Stage 4 | Stage 5 (approved) |
|---|---|---|
| SHE 1: South Hayling Beach to Langstone Bridge | Not yet determined | |
| SHE 2: Langstone Bridge to Prinsted | Not yet determined | |
| SHE 3: Prinsted to Bosham | Not yet determined | |
| SHE 4: Bosham to West Itchenor | 9 July 2020 | |
| SHE 5: West Itchenor to West Wittering Beach | Not yet determined |
Next steps
Stage 5: Open
Once the Secretary of State has approved 1 or more of the reports, Natural England will start work with Hampshire County Council and the relevant authority in consultation with West Sussex County Council on preparing the route for public use.
The first step will be to contact owners and occupiers of the affected land to discuss the design and location of any new infrastructure which is required such as signs and gates.
When preparations are complete, new access rights will be brought into force along the route and adjoining spreading room.
Find out more about the King Charles III England Coast Path
See information about all stretches in preparation around England’s coast.
The coastal access scheme gives details of the process being followed to improve access to the coast.
Contact the coastal access team
Contact Natural England with any comments, suggestions or queries you have about improving coastal access.
Coastal access team (South)
Natural England
Mail Hub
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP
Email southcoastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone 0300 060 3900
See the map below for information about progress on improving coastal access in other parts of Hampshire and West Sussex.
Last updated 9 July 2020 + show all updates
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Added table showing the reports which make up the collection. Page updated to show that 1 of the 5 reports has received Secretary of State approval.
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Page updated to show this stretch is now at stage 4.
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Removed the sentence giving a date for when access is expected to be ready. Publication of the report is expected in autumn 2019.
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Dates amended: publication of report now expected in 2019. Access expected to be ready in 2020.
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Updated page to show that work has reached stage 2 and 3.
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First published.