CONTROVERSIAL proposals to replace almost 120 storm-ravaged beach huts on the New Forest coastline are set to be approved next week.

New Forest District Council is poised to give itself planning permission for the £1.3 million scheme, which aims to transform a long strip of land overlooking the Solent and the Isle of Wight.

Most of the 119 huts that previously stood on the site were either damaged or destroyed by 80mph winds almost two years ago.

Those that survived the so-called Valentine’s Day storm, which battered the county on the night of February 14, 2014, were later demolished in the interests of public safety.

An outline application to replace the huts at Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, was given the go-ahead by the council last year.

Now members of the authority’s planning and development control committee are being urged to approve a more detailed proposal when they meet on Wednesday.

The proposed new huts are designed to withstand the type of storm seen only once every 200 years.

But a report to the committee says 35 people have objected to the application for a variety of reasons, including the size and position of the huts.

Critics claim the structures will be taller than their predecessors, increasing their visual impact.

The beach huts will also be set back into the upper promenade, partly to protect them from future storms. They will be directly below the esplanade, which means the top of the huts will form part of the public walkway.

Objectors, some of whom are expected to lobby the committee, claim there should be “no public access” to the roof.

The report to councillors says the position of the huts will eliminate the potentially dangerous gap that existed between their predecessors and the promenade.

It adds that a balustrade would overcome safety concerns created by the new “inhabited” roof but would have little visual impact – especially when seen from a distance.

“The balustrade would be set back from the edge of the roof. Views down into the private space would be restricted and the privacy of the beach hut owners maintained, in addition to protecting the safety of roof users,” says the report.

“The design would incorporate key aspects of the character of the former huts, while improving resilience.”