The UK beach where nudists vow to continue baring all despite losing battle
Naturists and other locals originally objected to the development when it was proposed in 2018.
Naturists who use Eastney Beach near Portsmouth have said they will continue barring all on the beach despite losing a battle to stop the development of a former Naval gunnery.
Portsmouth City Council approved planning permission for the development of the former Naval gunnery in Hampshire into premium flats. The gunnery was used by the Royal Navy to train recruits until it was closed in the 1980s.
In a statement, they said that while the number of people overlooking the beach would increase, it did not go "against the philosophy of being a naturist".
Naturists have said they will continue using the beach which has been used by naturists for around 70 years.
The Mail reported that one naturist, Graham Jickells, claimed that everyone who currently uses the beach will continue to take advantage of it.
He said: "All of the people that I know that use the beach are still going to use the beach and continue to do so.
"We'll see what the residents say once it's up and running and they see all these bodies wandering up and down the beach. I'm sure they'll complain but it is what it is, it's an official beach.”
The decision by the local council marks the end of a long-running saga over the property development which started in 2018 when developers Orangestar Capital first submitted plans to build 134 homes.
These plans, which included sea walls and sea defences, were subsequently objected to by locals and naturists.
One objector said: “Fraser Range has one of the few naturist beaches on the south coast and is one the few clean and accessible local beaches left after substantial flood defences on our shores.
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"The space we have to enjoy these freedoms is becoming less and less each year and our population is suffering with mental health and obesity epidemics."
Despite their loss, beachgoers and naturists have been reassured they will still be able to use the naturist beach despite the development of premium flats nearby.
Following the victory, a spokesperson for the developers said they were confident they had alleviated concerns posed by Natural England and had been working with the local council and community “to bring forward this derelict site for much-needed new homes”.
They added: "We look forward to Portsmouth City Council approving the plans, so we can get on site and begin work on the sea defences as quickly as possible."
