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Sunrise view of Lyndhurst, a large village and civil parish situated in the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, England

Planning policy

Local Plan review 2025-27

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The Regulation 19 Submission draft Local Plan consultation is open from 17 August to 30 September 2026

Full details of the consultation are available at our dedicated online portal. Alongside the draft Local Plan we have prepared an updated Local Plan Policies Map.

The Submission draft version of the New Forest National Park Local Plan is the version that we intend to submit to the Government for independent examination in December 2026. All of the representations received during the Regulation 19 consultation will be submitted to the Government for the appointed Inspector to consider.

We have published a ‘Statement of Representations Procedure’ note setting out further details of the consultation and how representations can be made.

Timeline of our Local Plan review

Timeline of Local Plan stages Feb 2025–Dec 2027: consultations, pre-submission, submission, examination, inspector’s report, modifications, adoption

 

The consultation timeline

The Regulation 19 stage is the third opportunity for people to engage in the Local Plan Review process.  Details of the two previous consultations held during the initial Regulation 18 stage are set out below.

Regulation 18 (Part 1) consultation

The Regulation 18 (Part 1) consultation on the scope of the Local Plan Review, including a ‘Call for sites’, took place between February and March 2025. This comprised the following document:

Local Plan Review – direction of travel document

Regulation 18 (Part 2) consultation

The Regulation 18 (Part 2) consultation on the draft Local Plan Review ran from 5 November to 19 December 2025. At this stage we published an initial draft Plan and thank you to everyone who provided feedback. You can still view the full draft Local Plan, together with evidence and supporting documents, at https://nfnpalocalplan.commonplace.is

Person pointing at a map on a planning poster titled “Natural environment of the National Park” displayed on green boards

A Local Plan public consultation session

Residents discuss Local Plan proposals beside display boards at a public consultation event
Engaging with the public on the Local Plan review

Local Plan regulation 18 consultation Nov/Dec 2025 key documents

Local Plan regulation 18 consultation Nov/Dec 2025 supporting documents and evidence