NFDC Update March 2026

New Forest District Council

Local Plan Review

New Forest Consultative Panel – 5 March 2026

Planning in New Forest District

Agenda

• Introductions
• Why planning matters
• Where are we in the Local Plan review
• Timetable
• What is in our plan
• Any questions

Planning for the Future – Why It Matters

What area is the District Council planning for?

Key challenges for the Local Plan to address

• Housing Demand Growth: Demand for 22,500 new homes by 2043 requires expanded land use and infrastructure planning.
• Demographic Challenges: An ageing population and shrinking workforce create recruitment challenges for local businesses.
• Climate and Sustainability: Commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050 drive renewable energy and sustainable transport integration.
• Economic Diversification: Supporting marine industries, advanced manufacturing, and digital technology strengthens economic resilience.
• Environmental & Infrastructure Constraints: 57% of plan area constrained (National Park, habitats, flood risk, Green Belt).
• Infrastructure:
  • Transport, GP provision, schools, playing pitches
• Policy and Engagement: New national policy coming out and a need to align with robust stakeholder engagement and updated national policies.

Where are we in the Local Plan review

Where we are in the review process

• Current consulting on the draft spatial options and policy direction local plan

Purpose of Spatial Options and policy direction document

Timetable

Timetable for to the adoption of the plan

• Winter 2027 – Inspectors report and adoption
• Spring 2027 - estimated Local Plan examination period
• Autumn 2026 – December 2026 public consultation on the final draft Local Plan then submit the Local Plan to government for independent examination
• March 2026 to Autumn 2026 - preparing the Local Plan informed by consultation feedback and further evidence
• February 2026 to March 2026 - public consultation on the draft Local Plan (this stage)

What is in our plan

What the Plan Covers

• Core Topics in This Consultation
• Vision & Objectives to 2043
• Sustainable Spatial Strategy (where growth should go)
• Strategic Development Growth Options (SDGOs)
• Housing needs, mix & affordability
• Settlement hierarchy & built-up area boundaries
• Natural environment & biodiversity (New Forest, Solent, River Avon)
• Green Belt & new Grey Belt designation
• Climate change, flood risk & coastal change
• Transport, infrastructure & community facilities
• Design, placemaking & design codes

Housing Need & What It Means

• A major step-change is required
• Standard Method gives 1,254 homes per year (22,572 over plan period)
• Current commitments (permissions and allocations): 6,835 homes
• Potential future supply options: 6,747 homes
• Even if every potential option were deliverable, there remains an estimated shortfall of ~8,910 homes
• Delivery must consider:
  • Environmental constraints
  • Infrastructure capacity
  • Viability & deliverability
• The Plan will likely set a housing target lower than full need, with unmet need discussed with neighbours and will need to be justified

Spatial Options for Growth

• Five broad strategic options (all likely to be combined):
  • Option 1: Focus growth in towns and villages per current settlement hierarchy
  • Option 2: Large expansions to towns
  • Option 3: Large expansions to towns and main villages
  • Option 4: A new settlement
  • Option 5: Larger-scale growth in small rural villages (including within National Landscape)
• All options have pros/cons; none perform strongly across all sustainability themes.
• We are asking communities which combination feels most appropriate.

Strategic Development Growth Options (SDGOs)

• 15 broad areas (100+ dwellings) identified for testing
• Include potential expansions at: Totton, Hythe, Holbury/Blackfield, Lymington, Everton, Hordle, New Milton, Ringwood, Fordingbridge and a potential new settlement at Downton
• Some lie in Green Belt or Grey Belt areas
• Each SDGO assessed for:
  • Deliverability, access & infrastructure
  • Landscape impact & relationship to National Park
  • Ecology (including international sites)
  • Heritage, flood risk, viability
• These are options, not proposals.

Totton and the Waterside

Coastal Towns

Avon Valley & Downlands

Environment & Protected Landscapes

• This is a plan built around environmental limits
• 57% of the Plan Area affected by NPPF Footnote 7 constraints
• Strong duty to further the purposes of:
  • New Forest National Park
  • Cranborne Chase National Landscape
• The plan will contain the following requirements:
  • Avoid & mitigate impacts on international sites (New Forest, Solent, River Avon)
  • Alternative Natural Recreational Greenspace (ANRG) and/or potential new country parks
  • 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (statutory)
  • Strengthened ecological corridors, waterbody protections, and LNRS alignment

Green Belt & Grey Belt

• 21% of District is Green Belt
• National policy requires review due to high unmet housing need
• Grey Belt = Green Belt parcels making limited contribution to key GB purposes
• Sequential approach must be followed:
  • Brownfield
  • Grey Belt
  • Other Green Belt
• Green Belt release only possible if:
  • Locations are sustainable
  • “Golden Rules” met (high affordable housing, green space, infrastructure)
  • Effects on the remaining Green Belt are acceptable

Design, Placemaking & Standards

• We want to create a plan that raises quality & supports character by:
  • Landscape-led, locally distinctive design
  • Design codes being produced for consistent expectations
  • Higher densities possible alongside high-quality design and appropriate landscapes
  • Minimum space standards under consideration
  • Stronger requirements for:
    • Green & blue infrastructure
    • Sustainable drainage (SuDS)
    • Walking/cycling connectivity
    • Tree-lined streets and nature-positive design

Infrastructure & Community Facilities

• The plan will identify and cost infrastructure needed to support growth, including:
  • New schools, GP/dentistry capacity, community hubs
  • Transport upgrades, public transport & active travel networks
  • Utilities, flood mitigation & climate adaptation
  • Sports, play and open space
  • Digital connectivity
• This will feed into:
  • Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP)
  • Updated Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

Backup Grazing – A Unique Feature of the New Forest

• Essential to Commoning: Backup grazing land is critical to the traditional practice of commoning, allowing livestock to be removed from the open Forest during winter or poor weather, ensuring animal welfare and pasture recovery.
• Ecological & Cultural Value: These areas support biodiversity, maintain landscape character, and uphold centuries-old cultural heritage unique to the New Forest.
• Mostly on Whiteland: Unlike designated conservation areas, most backup grazing land lies on unconstrained 'whiteland', making it vulnerable to development pressures despite its strategic importance.
• Planning Implications: Loss of backup grazing undermines the viability of commoning, which in turn threatens the ecological balance of the Forest. It is not just a land-use issue—it’s a systemic environmental and cultural risk.
• Policy Gap: National planning frameworks (e.g. NPPF) do not currently recognise backup grazing as a protected land use, requiring local policy innovation and robust evidence to safeguard it

How you can get involved – what we need you tell us

We have a number of drop in events, which we would like your help to promote, and to hear your feedback. But key points we want to hear include:

• Does the draft vision reflect your community’s priorities?
• Which spatial options do you support or oppose — and why?
• Which SDGOs raise opportunities or concerns locally?
• Should the settlement hierarchy be updated?
• Thoughts on the approach to:
  • Green Belt / Grey Belt
  • Nature protection & ANRG
  • Biodiversity Net Gain
  • Flood & coastal resilience
  • Design & densities
• What local infrastructure must be prioritised if growth occurs?
• What is missing or needs strengthening?

Consultation event dates

8 drop in events held so far, two dates left:

Around 450 people have visited us so far and over 100 responses received

Questions?