A DOZEN new beach huts planned for Highcliffe as part of a TV competition do need planning permission, says Christchurch MP Chris Chope.

Mr Chope has spoken out about Christchurch council’s decision to push the beach hut scheme through ‘behind closed doors’ without consulting the public on the plans. His comments put on a collision course with the council’s Tory leadership.

Earlier this year a competition was launched by Christchurch council and the producers of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces to design one of 12 beach huts for Highcliffe.

Objections have been raised by campaigners from the Friends of Highcliffe Beaches and Cliffs, who are calling for the scheme to be scrapped.

Yesterday, the group handed in a petition against the plans to the council.

Last week it was revealed that a decision to go ahead with building the beach huts was made without public consultation because of “commercial sensitivity”.

And on Thursday, councillors were called in to approve designs that have been shortlisted - but they have not been made public.

But Mr Chope has said the council should have found a way to share information with the public.

“It doesn’t seem that the council is helping itself by not speaking to the public,” he added.

“I would hope that we could have transparency while at the same time observing the need to obtain commercial sensitivity.

“But unfortunately there seems like there has been no effort made by the council to do this and they have instead done everything behind closed doors.”

According to Mr Chope he also believes the council is wrong on its decision not to get planning permission for the huts, a point of view shared by protesters.

The council has said the beach retreats will not need planning permission as they are covered by permitted development.

This applies to buildings not exceeding four metres in height, which is the maximum height of the beach huts.

But Mr Chope said: “I think it’s quite clear that these beach huts need to have planning permission and that means consulting with the public about their views.

“There was a similar case in Tyneside where the court ruled that because beach huts were permanent structures, they needed to have permission. I don’t know why that would be different here.”