NPA Update March 2026
Summary
Document Viewer
Consultative Panel
5 March 2026
Nigel Stone
Head of Resources
Greener, Wilder and More Accessible
Capital Investments by NFNPA
Defra has made capital funding available to the Authority – for 2025/26 and likely the next 3 years
Can be used for:
- Income Generation
- Invest to save ideas
- Nature Recovery opportunities (known as 30x30).
NFNPA Priorities:
- Gaining a footprint within the National Park
- Saving funds on rented office space (Lymington Town Hall)
- Investments in nature projects
Foxlease – small piece of land and three properties:
- Existing partners, can be expanded
- Save money and income generation opportunities
- Was available within 2025/26
Foxlease - Location
Foxlease – Rental Properties
2 x Semi Detached 3-bed
Properties
Foxlease – Final Property
1 x Detached 4-bed Bungalow
Property (potentially for an
‘NPA Operational Hub’)
Budget & Work Programme
Our 2026/27 Draft Budget and Work Programme (for the Authority only) has recently gone to Resources, Audit and Performance Committee and will be moving on for approval at the Authority meeting on Thursday 26th March.
Papers all available on our website.
Budget:
- £3m core revenue grant (same as 2025/26, no inflation)
Staffing (c50 FTEs), £200k Programme Fund, wider fundraising, delivery often through externally-funded projects
- £1.4m core capital grant (same as 2025/26, no inflation)
Main office space & 30x30 nature initiatives
Work Programme:
- 2026/27 – last year of our own 5-year Business Plan, continuity programme under 6 themes (climate, nature, people, place, partnerships and organisation)
Partnership Plan 2027-2032
What is it?
- Plan for the place (not our Authority) - actions and outcomes agreed by key Forest partners and monitored by an officers group and leaders panel
Details:
- Was widely refreshed and reformatted for 2022-27
- Need to consider on-the-ground changes since this time
- Consider impacts of Devolution & Local Govt Re-organisation
- 160+ page Defra guidance on Management Plans
Timescales / Opportunities to get involved:
- Paper went to the January Authority meeting
- Initial plan developed during 2026 by partners, with public and wider stakeholder consultation likely early 2027:
NPA General Updates
Website – the Authority will be launching its new website at the end of March. Should be more up-to-date, easier to find information, better searches and works on all tech (phones / tablets etc)
PedALL – already starting rides for the 2026 season
Landscape Connections - £10m lottery funding over 10 years, we have been successful with an Expression of Interest, full bid to be developed in the coming months (18mth further development phase and 8-year delivery)
Car Parking Charges – Promoted consultation, preparing our Authority (staff & members) for questions / queries as a result of the charging from April.
Thank You
Any Questions??
Contact Me:
Nigel Stone