Local Plan - Issues and Scope Regulation 18 Consultation

As part of the process for creating the next Local Plan, New Forest District Council has published its Issues and Scope Regulation 18 Consultation Document which is open for public consultation from Monday 17 February 2025 to Friday 4 April 2025. The document can be both viewed and comments made on here: https://www.newforest.gov.uk/localplan.

The new Local Plan will set the Council’s development guidelines, allocate sites, and establish the vision for the New Forest District outside of the National Park. This Issues and Scope Consultation is the first formal public consultation in this process and provides an opportunity to comment on what our main priorities should be and suggest solutions to challenges faced by the plan area. Responses made on this Issues and Scope Consultation will be taken into consideration as work on the new Local Plan progresses. 

Drop-in events

As part of the Issues and Scope Consultation, we are also holding a series of public drop-in events across the plan area from 2pm-7pm on the following dates. These events will be staffed by members of our planning team and provide people with the opportunity to come and find out more about the Local Plan Issues and Scope.

26th February - Fordingbridge - Avonway Community Centre, SP6 1JF
27th February - Lymington - Lymington Community Centre, SO41 9BQ 
28th February - Hythe & Didben - St Andrews Church, Dibden Purlieu, SO45 4PT
3rd March - New Milton - New Milton Memorial Centre, BH25 6DE
4th March - Totton - West Totton Community Centre, SO40 8WU
5th March - Marchwood - Lloyd Recreation Hub (Lloyds Rec Ground), SO40 4SX
7th March - Ringwood - Greyfriars Community Centre, BH24 1DW 

Call for Sites

Alongside this consultation, we will also be running a further Call for Sites which is an opportunity to suggest possible additional sites to the Council that may be suitable for development or that could be used in a more productive way or for a more beneficial use. Any sites previously submitted in late 2024 do not need to be resubmitted. More information on the Call for Sites 2025 and how you can put forward sites for consideration is found at: www.newforest.gov.uk/article/2766/Further-Call-for-Sites. The closing date for site submissions is Friday 4 April 2025.