Unique picture of the Park
A complete picture of what makes four different parts of the New Forest National Park unique or distinctive has been captured for the first time.
The so-called ‘character appraisals’ touch on every aspect that gives the area its special identity including historic development, landscape and topography, the style, type and form of buildings, even the spaces between buildings and the materials, textures, colours and less tangible elements such as sounds and smells.
The appraisals cover areas known as Forest North East, Forest South East, Western Escarpment and Forest Central (North and South). They will be the yardstick against which applications for development are considered in the corresponding Conservation Areas which were designated recently.
Paula Freeland, Head of Environmental Services for the New Forest National Park Authority, said: ‘These character appraisals identify the special qualities of the areas and highlight features of particular significance. The Authority has a duty to ensure that the character of a Conservation Area is preserved or enhanced.
‘We hope the appraisals will make it clearer for everyone who lives or works or proposes development in these areas why they were designated as Conservation Areas in the first place and show the framework within which planning applications will be assessed.’
The character appraisals can be viewed at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/building_conservation_conservation_areas and paper copies are available from the New Forest National Park headquarters.
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Media Contact:
Karen Evans, Communications Officer, New Forest National Park Authority
Tel: 01590 646650
Email: karen.evans@newforestnpa.gov.uk
