Hampshire County Council has undertaken a study of its 370km of coastline to aid the development of coastal projects, planning and management. Stretching from Highcliffe in Dorset to Chichester Harbour, Hampshire County Council conducted the study to meet the social and recreational needs of the 28km of coastline it manages. Much of the coastline is of significant economic and environmental value to HCC as it is an area rich in historical heritage and tourism. The region's main tourist attractions are associated with defence heritage and include the Historic Ships at Portsmouth, which attract almost 500,000 visitors per year, and the castles and museums on the coast attract a further 370,000. The Solent also attracts thousands of visitors per year through its international sailing events. Head of HCC's countryside service, Merrick Denton-Thompson, says the results will help with future coastal planning in an ever-changing environment: The data we have gathered so far will help us to predict how the coastline is changing and therefore how the County Council and other relevant authorities can improve planning and management arrangements.