Hampshire County Council is committed to the conservation and protection of Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, an internationally important site for rare wildlife and special habitats.

We want to ensure Titchfield Haven remains a thriving part of the local community under the County Council’s management, to deliver an enhanced visitor experience of the site’s wildlife and habitats and continue to support its volunteer network.

The aim of the proposed changes is to generate the significant investment required for the NNR, so that we can continue to protect the special habitats and species that the NNR supports whilst increasing resilience to the impacts of coastal and climate change. Also, to ensure the best use of public assets and resources, so that the local community, volunteers, and visitors can enjoy it for many years to come.

We have undertaken a thorough review of the current position in terms of operational management, visitor data and wider financial analysis, and considered a range of potential options in detail.

The proposed plan would enable us to generate investment for the nature reserve and its important wildlife and habitats, as well as improve the visitor experience within the reserve.

Many options have been considered and explored in detail; however, it has become evident that none of these alternative options would enable us to maintain and improve the reserve, as well as provide and sustain a high quality, fit for purpose café, shop and visitor centre.

The main options considered were:

• Do nothing / continue as is
• Develop the offer (either improve the current buildings or a new sustainable facility elsewhere)
• Change the focus (prioritise the nature reserve and manage without a café and shop)
• Transfer management of the reserve to another organisation

Further information on the main benefits and drawbacks of each option.

The option to move to free, open access with no visitor facilities was also considered. However, this was discounted due to the sensitive nature of the site. The current admissions process helps to manage visitor numbers and restrict access to dogs, who may cause disturbance to wildlife.

The proposed approach is the most viable option for both the long-term environmental and financial sustainability of the National Nature Reserve, and for its nationally important wildlife and habitats.

Developing a sustainable way of managing the nature reserve for the future, both environmentally and financially, has been an area of consideration for the Countryside Service for several years.

During this time, the service has also commissioned external reviews to identify the opportunities and challenges across the portfolio of our sites. More detailed work on potential future options for Titchfield began at the end of 2021 towards developing the current proposals for change.

Under the proposals, and if the plan is agreed, the café would close on 23 December 2022.

From this date, tickets will be available to purchase online, and throughout January visitors will be supported by members of staff at the Visitor Centre reception to answer any questions and ease the transition for visitors.

No. Hampshire County Council is committed to the conservation and protection of Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve.

The proposed changes would increase investment in the national nature reserve, support wildlife, and enhance how visitors can access and enjoy this special place.

We remain fully committed to the nature reserve and this proposal seeks to ensure we can continue to maintain and manage the reserve and its precious habitats.

Under the proposals, the Ranger team would continue to carry out their role in supporting and managing the upkeep of the reserve. A small team would also continue to support the administrative aspect of running the reserve.

The proposal places some roles at risk of redundancy and those employees affected are being supported and advised of options available to them such as redeployment.

Reducing staffing levels is always a difficult decision and one that we approach in a sensitive manner. Our focus is on supporting our team at the nature reserve over this period of uncertainty.

We know the nature reserve is much loved and valued by the local community and visitors from further afield, and we are very fortunate to have a fantastic team of volunteers who dedicate time to support the nature reserve.

The majority of volunteering opportunities and roles will continue to be available to support the reserve, in both practical tasks and engaging with our visitors.

Our highly valued members with an annual season ticket would continue to be able to visit the reserve as usual.

Should the proposals be approved, this would allow the service to invest funds into improving the reserve and therefore provide a better experience for all visitors, including our annual members.

Should the proposals go ahead, there are no plans to change the opening hours.

Should the visitor centre close, tickets and memberships will be able to be purchased online. There will also be transition period during January where visits will still be able to access the main reception.

Every year we review our prices and charges against other similar nature reserves and visitor attractions for all our sites. Any price changes normally take effect in March.

Current prices:

• Adults £6.50
• Senior Citizens £5.50
• Children (5 to 15 years) £3.50
• Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £17

Under the proposals the café would close, however, there are popular facilities in the local area that do offer refreshments.

As part of our public engagement survey, we are asking for feedback on alternative options such as seasonal or temporary catering facilities.

The public engagement is now concluded.

Feedback from the survey will be included as part of final recommendations for the future of Titchfield Haven, which will considered by the Executive Member for Countryside, Culture and Communities on 8 December 2022

The information contained in the Business case is commercially sensitive but given the response to the public engagement exercise the balance of the public interest versus the commercially sensitive nature of the information has changed and it is now considered that the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the commercial sensitivity of the information. While the public engagement exercise provides all the necessary financial information to allow respondents to make an informed response the business case provides background information and detail of how the information in the public engagement exercise was produced.

Download the Business Case

The proposals for Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve aim to put nature first and prioritise investment in the National Nature Reserve, as an internationally important site for wildlife.

The interior spaces in Haven House are restrictive and not ideally designed to house the shop, reception, café, and toilets. There is limited capacity for refurbishment or improvement without alterations at significant cost.

The sale of the residential cottage alone would not provide enough funding to cover costs of the investment needed to manage the nature reserve to the statutory standards required and the investment needed to maintain Haven House Visitor Centre.

We anticipate that Haven Cottage would likely remain a residential dwelling. Any change of use or alternations of this Grade II listed building would require further permissions to be sought by the purchaser from the local planning authority (Fareham Borough Council) in the usual way. Haven House would be advertised on the open market for any potential buyer. Any significant change of use of this building would also require further permissions from the local district council in the usual way.

Fareham Borough Council manage the car park and therefore Hampshire County Council receive no income from the parking charges.

The estimated values of both properties are commercially sensitive information. 

We are proposing to invest 100% of the capital raised from the sale of the buildings in the Reserve.

No formal notices of redundancy have been given to staff at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve.

HCC has commenced a formal consultation period with Trade Unions and staff in reference to the proposed changes for THNNR and the potential impact these may have on some employees.

Trade Unions and staff have been advised that these are currently proposals and any final decisions about the future of the site will not be made until the Executive Member for Countryside, Culture & Communities Decision Day on 8 December 2022.

The net day-to-day running of the café is around £30k surplus each year.  However, this doesn’t include premises costs and other overheads. Overall, Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, including the Visitor Centre is costing HCC in the region of £160k revenue annually.

Every year we review our prices and charges against other similar nature reserves and visitor attractions for all our sites.