Abstract

This paper considers the role of the Hamble Estuary Partnership, a local voluntary coastal stakeholder partnership that is focused on the coordinated management of a small estuary in the Solent. More specifically, the paper critically examines the relationship between the Hamble Estuary Partnership and Solent Forum in order to determine evidence of duplication or integration between the two partnerships. It was found that the aspirations and working principles of the two partnerships were consistent and the methods of working and focus of activity of each partnership were distinctive yet complementary. However, it was also found that evidence of vertical policy integration was limited. It was concluded that although the two-tier partnership model presented an opportunity to deliver vertically integrated policies in the Hamble estuary, this opportunity was yet to be fully realised.