By 2003 the National Trust was considering the future prospect of the two Listed Harbour Piers. An independent report (Halcrow Report) was commissioned in 2004 and reported in 2006. The prospects for the next 100 years did not look good. It looked at the viability of the structure, given the very grim prospect that climate change, a rapidly rising sea level and increasing costs might lead to the Cove losing the Piers at an unspecified date in the future. They considered their options and the words "Managed Retreat" became a commonly used but unpopular phrase. There was an increase in reporting and the following comment was noted. ""The National Trust is already preparing for the loss of Mullion Harbour"" After noting details of the high cost of these non-listed building repairs costing £150,000 in 2006 and the plan to inspect the site every year, plus spend £5000 on repairs the report went on to say ""... When this programme becomes unsustainable the Trust will move to managed retreat, removing the Breakwaters, or allowing them to collapse, whilst trying to consolidate the inner walls. Eventually the harbour will to its original state as a cove on a storm lashed coast.""