CIVIC chiefs have given final approval to replace 120 storm-damaged beach huts at Milford on Sea despite a £1.1 million price hike.

The concrete structures at Milford on Sea were ripped apart by 80mph winds that battered the area on February 14 2014 and had to be demolished in the interests of public safety

The new huts, coupled with improvements to the seafront, will cost £2.3 million – almost double the original estimate.

New Forest District Council’s ruling Cabinet has approved the scheme after more than two years of debate and consultation.

On Monday the full council approved the scheme despite the price increase as council members were convinced by the greater benefits the expanded scheme offered to residents and visitors.

Members agreed to the additional spend of £1.1million, which included an extra £170,560 for the beach huts replacement and a further £861,271 for the enhancements to the seafront.

A budget of £70,000 set aside for previously planned improvements to the seafront steps will also be put towards this.

The scheme will include rebuilding and widening the lower promenade, constructing 119 concrete beach huts and a new sea wall, extending the upper promenade out over the new huts to incorporate a public walkway and improving access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

The contract for the build has been awarded to Ringwood company Raymond Brown Construction Ltd, with work expected to start in September for completion in April next year.

Executive director of operations at the council Colin Read said: “The prices we received as part of the tender process came in significantly over the budget set two years ago to replace the huts that were damaged in the 2014 storms.

"Our decision to use this once in a lifetime opportunity to look at the wider benefits that could be gained from this project for residents and visitors to Milford meant that the costs increased.

"That, coupled with an upturn in the construction industry which has seen prices rise, meant that the project team had to ask councillors to approve a £1.1million increase in the project budget to a total project budget of £2.36million."

Milford beach hut owners pay an annual site rental which provides the council with an annual income of £45,600.

The hut owners are contributing a total of £429,877 towards the cost of replacing the beach huts.