April 2026- Local requirements proposed changes

The national requirements note the need for a location plan and “others as necessary” with a reliance on the local requirements to detail what those are. For the avoidance of doubt, the local requirements should confirm what we need (particularly for the local requirement of calculating floorspace):

• Block plan including site access details and showing proposed works in relation to any adjacent neighbours. The full footprint of neighbouring properties should be shown unless the site is large.
• All complete existing and proposed inset elevations where applicable. Should no change be proposed and only a single drawing submitted, this should be titled appropriately to reflect this.
• Existing and proposed inset elevations where applicable.
• Existing and proposed site sections and finished floor and site levels (1:50 or 1:100) (in all cases where proposals involve a change in ground levels or is on a sloping site).

• All plans should have a metric scale bar, key dimensions (distance of the development from the boundaries of the site and size of the building) original paper size, a drawing number and a North point where applicable.
• Roof Plans (required for all applications involving complex extensions, alterations to roof forms and new buildings).
• For listed building consent applications where windows and doors are to be replaced, details of all new fenestration at a scale of 1:5 section and 1:10 elevation. Elevation plans for all heritage assets should be annotated to clearly describe the proposed materials.
• Where the drawing disclaimer states “Do not scale,” the disclaimer must continue to read as “unless for planning purposes.”
• For Section 73 (variation of condition applications), additional, scalable elevations and floor plans clearly showing the previous proposals superimposed over current proposals.

• Local Plan Policies DP2, SP16, SP17, DP34, DP35, DP36
• Design Guide
• National Planning Policy Framework Paragraphs 44 and 45
• National Planning Policy Guidance Paragraph 016 (“Making and application validation requirements”)

Required for all new residential development of 3 or more units or where the floor space of the proposed housing would exceed 1,000 square metres and for all applications for Rural Exceptions Sites under Local Plan Policy SP28 and NPPF paragraph 78.

• Local Plan Policies SP27 and SP28
• Development Standards SPD
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 5

Required for proposals for agricultural/ forestry/ estate worker’s or commoner’s dwellings and all new agricultural buildings.

Agreement to payment of fee for independent verification of statement.

Required for any development affecting Lyndhurst Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) or where the development could lead to the designation of an AQMA with high levels of pollution.

• Local Plan Policy SP15
• National Planning Policy Framework Paragraph 199

Required for all applications that include or are likely to affect Ancient and Semi Natural Woodland

• Local Plan Policy DP2 and SP6
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

• Natural England Website
• Forestry England Website
• NFNPA Website

Required for all major planning applications.

All statements and documents must meet industry standards.

• Local Plan Policy SP16
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 16

Biodiversity checklist required for all applications.

Ecology Surveys required for all applications for development within, adjacent or within close proximity to international, national or local nature conservation sites unless the Authority advises otherwise.

Preliminary Ecological Assessment (including Potential Bat Roost Assessment) required for any development involving demolition or changes of a structure or changes to roof and cladding structures including fascias, soffits, hanging tiles and weather boarding.

• Local Plan Policies SP5, SP6 and DP2
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

• NFNPA Website
• Natural England Website
• Wildlife Assessment Check (Wildlife Assessment Check – Partnership for Biodiversity in Planning)

When a planning application is submitted, there are minimum national information requirements related to biodiversity net gain for those applications which, if planning permission was granted, would be subject to the general biodiversity gain condition. This will allow consideration of existing habitat baselines.

The existing on-site habitat plan to be submitted under national requirements must also include an accurate scale bar and page size.

The Authority may also seek further information about the proposed strategy to meet the biodiversity gain objective for the development.

This would not apply to the following exemptions:

• Temporary exemption for non-major developments (until April 2024) Defined as development not defined as major development under the Article 2 Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015. The exemption will continue to apply to section 73 permissions where the original permission which the section 73 relates to was subject to this temporary exemption.
• Householder development as defined within article 2(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.
• Development granted planning permission by a development order under section 59 This includes permitted development rights.
• Development subject to the de minimis exemption - development that does not impact a priority habitat and impacts less than 25 square metres (e.g. 5m by 5m) of habitat, or 5 metres of linear habitats such as hedgerows.
• Self-build and custom build development - development which:
  • consists of no more than 9 dwellings, and
  • is carried out on a site which has an area no larger than 0.5 hectares, and
  • consists exclusively of dwellings which are self-build or custom housebuilding as defined in section 1(A1) of the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015.
• Urgent Crown development granted under s293A TCPA 1990.
• Development of a biodiversity gain site - development which is undertaken solely or mainly for the purpose of fulfilling, in whole or in part, the biodiversity gain planning condition which applies in relation to another development.
• Development related to the high speed railway transport network - development forming part of, or ancillary to, the high speed railway transport network comprising connections between all or any of the places or parts of the transport network specified in section 1(2) of the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Act 2013

• Environment Act 2021
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

Required for all applications within or immediately adjacent to SSSI or Ramsar, SAC or SPA areas

• Local Plan Policies SP5 and SP6
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

Required for all applications for major development; applications in a conservation area consisting of 1 or more dwellings or buildings of 100+ square metres.

Required for applications for listed building consent.

A site specific flood risk assessment should be provided for all development in Flood Zones 2 and 3.

This includes householder development, small non-residential extensions (with a footprint of less than 250 sq. m) and changes of use; except for changes of use to a caravan, camping or chalet site, or to a mobile home or park home site, where the sequential and exception tests should be applied as appropriate.

In Flood Zone 1, an assessment should accompany all proposals involving: sites of 1 hectare or more; land which has been identified by the Environment Agency as having critical drainage problems; land identified in a strategic flood risk assessment as being at increased flood risk in future; or land that may be subject to other sources of flooding, where its development would introduce a more vulnerable use.

• Local Plan Policy DP12
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 14

• Environment Agency Website
• NFDC & NFNPA Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

Required for all applications affecting designated and non-designated heritage assets (including historic parks and gardens, battlefields and Scheduled Ancient Monuments and non-scheduled archaeological sites, areas of significant archaeological potential and areas with the potential to impact on heritage assets with archaeological interest).

Required for all applications within and adjacent to Conservation Areas, including demolition of non-listed buildings within Conservation Areas.

Required for all applications affecting Listed Buildings including works and buildings within the curtilage of a listed building.

Required for all applications in Conservation Areas and within the curtilage of a listed building that include excavations.

Reference to the Historic Environment Record is expected as a minimum. The statement should include: an assessment of the heritage asset’s significance; discuss the impact of the proposal on the heritage asset and its significance; and a statement of how harm has been avoided or minimised through design mitigation.

Statements must include internal and external photographs and a construction method statement giving details of appropriate working methods and practices.

• Local Plan Policies DP2, SP16, SP17 and DP18
• Design Guide
• Relevant Conservation Area Appraisals
• Adopted Village Design Statements
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 16

• Historic England Website
• NFNPA Website
• Historic Environment Record

Required where contamination is known or suspected to exist or the proposed use is vulnerable and is included on the list of contaminated sites. Within 250 metres of a currently licensed or historic landfill site.

• Local Plan Policy SP15
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

Required for major development where existing trees, hedges and other landscape features will be affected by the proposals and landscape needs to be considered as an integral part of the development. Proposals should include details of proposed soft & hard landscape, and its long term maintenance.

A Landscape Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) is required for larger applications and/ or applications in particularly sensitive locations.

New Forest National Park Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Action Plan.

• Local Plan Policies SP7, DP2, SP6, SP9, SP16, SP17
• Design Guide
• Relevant Village Design Statements
• Relevant Conservation Area Appraisal Documents
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

Required for all proposals involving large areas of external lighting (lit car parks, floodlighting of buildings, structures or areas).

For small scale lighting/ development, lighting information including Lux levels and the design of the lighting units.

For large scale lighting/ development, a full assessment should be provided including a full external lighting plan with Lux levels with a Lux contour map, the design of the lighting units and potential impact/ mitigation.

• Local Plan Policy SP15
• Adopted Village Design Statements
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15 paragraph 198

Nutrient Mitigation Checklist and relevant Nutrient Budget calculation required (Solent or River Avon) for applications proposing a net increase in dwellings or other forms of overnight accommodation.

• Habitats Regulations
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

• NFNPA Website
• Natural England Website

Required for any major development where it is likely to generate associated noise or activity in noise sensitive areas.

• Local Plan Policy SP15
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15 Paragraph 198

Where off-site contribution is required and is to be provided, this should be submitted with the planning application and where Local Plan Policies/ SPD give details of likely requirements.

Statement must confirm willingness to pay in full or provide details of on-site ecological mitigation measures instead.

• Local Plan Policies SP5 and SP38
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 4
• Development Standards SPD

Required for all major applications.

Required for all major applications.

Required for all planning applications.

The statement should include details of how the proposal is resilient and responsive to the impacts of climate change through: improved energy efficiency; making appropriate use of small-scale renewable energy; its use of sustainable building techniques, local materials and minimising energy use and waste; water efficiency; and enabling wildlife and habitats to adapt to climate change.

• National Planning Policy Framework Section 14
• Local Plan Policies SP1, SP11 and DP8

Required for all Telecommunications applications.

Required where proposal would lead to significant transport implications.

• Local Plan Policies DP2, SP38, SP54 and SP55
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 9

Required for all planning applications where a Transport Assessment is required.

• Local Plan Policies DP2, SP28, SP54 and SP55
• Development Standards SPD
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 9

Required for all applications where trees or hedgerows are proposed to be lost or would be affected (directly or indirectly) by the development.

• Local Plan Policies DP2, SP9
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

Required for applications for uses involving food preparation – restaurants, cafes, takeaways and pubs (parts of Class E and Sui Generis categories of the Use Classes Order as amended 2020).

• Local Plan Policy SP15
• National Planning Policy Framework Section 15

Required for all applications for new dwellings where the applicant is seeking relaxation from contribution requirements.