Planning

The National Park Authority is the sole local planning authority for land within the National Park. Planning has a vital role to play in ensuring that new development is well designed and carefully sited so that it contributes to the variety and quality of the New Forest’s outstanding natural environment and built heritage, as well as providing homes and work places to sustain its rural communities and the local economy.

There are broadly two aspects to the Authority’s planning work:

Policy and Plans - primarily involved with the production of new style planning policy documents which are known as local development plan documents. This team is also involved with the preparation, implementation and review of the National Park Management Plan.

Development Management – which is responsible for determining planning applications based on national planning guidance and local planning policies. This team is also responsible for monitoring compliance with approved plans and investigating reported breaches of planning control.