Reg 19 Statement of Representations Procedure

This statement relates to the:

Regulation 19 Submission Draft New Forest National Park Local Plan 2024 – 2043

Subject matter and area covered:

The New Forest National Park Authority has prepared the Proposed Submission draft New Forest National Park Local Plan (Regulation 19) ahead of submission to the Secretary of State for independent Public Examination.

The draft Local Plan sets out the Authority’s vision and objectives, a spatial strategy, and a suite of strategic and development management planning policies to guide development within the New Forest National Park for the period between 2024 to 2043. These are complemented by a Policies Map and a monitoring and implementation framework.

The draft Local Plan identifies and positively plans for development within the National Park, in accordance statutory purposes and related socio-economic duty for National Parks as specified in the Environment Act 1995. The Plan seeks to deliver well-designed places, conserve and enhance the natural and historic environment and support the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.

Consultation period:

The Authority invites representations during a six-week public consultation taking place from Monday 17 August to 5pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026. In accordance with the Regulations, representations received after the deadline will be marked as late and may not be accepted by the Inspector.

Where to view the documents:

The proposed Submission draft New Forest National Park Local Plan 2024 – 2043 (Regulation 19) and suite of supporting evidence, including this ‘Statement of Representations Procedure and Availability of Documents’, are available to download and view online at: https://nfnpalocalplan.commonplace.is/.

Throughout the consultation, paper copies of the draft Local Plan and supporting evidence are available for inspection at the Authority’s Lymington office, during normal business hours: New Forest National Park Authority, Lymington Town Hall, Avenue Road, Lymington, SO41 9ZG.

Copies will also be available to view during the following six public drop-in sessions, which will be held across the National Park. All drop-in sessions will be open between 2pm – 7pm:

• Wednesday 2 September: Landford Village Hall, Lyndhurst Road, Landford
• Friday 4 September: Bartley Village Hall, Bourne Road, Woodlands
• Monday 7 September: The Copythorne & District Royal British Regional Hall, Southampton Road, Cadnam
• Tuesday 8 September: Jubilee Field, Station Road, Sway
• Friday 11 September: Lyndhurst Community Centre, Main Car Park, Lyndhurst
• Wednesday 16 September: Redlynch Village Hall, Vicarage Road, Redlynch

How to make a representation:

Representations must be made between Monday 17 August and 5pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026. All representations must be submitted in writing.

The simplest way to respond is through the Local Plan consultation platform https://nfnpalocalplan.commonplace.is/.

If you need help responding to this consultation, please contact us at: policy@newforestnpa.gov.uk or on 01590 646600.

Representations should focus on whether the Plan is legally compliant and sound.

Where groups or individuals share a common view on the draft Local Plan, they are encouraged to submit one authorised representation on behalf of all supporters, appending the names and addresses of those represented. This will carry the same weight as the equivalent number of individual representations.

Anonymous representations will not be accepted as these cannot be considered by the Planning Inspector. To ensure an effective and fair examination, it is important that the Inspector and all other participants in the Public Examination process are able to know who has made representations on the Plan.

The Planning Inspector will be provided with all representations made during the Regulation 19 consultation. If you would like comments submitted to previous consultations to be considered by the Inspector, please resubmit them.

Publication of representations:

After the representation period, all submissions will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Planning Inspectorate, alongside the Regulation 19 Submission Draft New Forest National Park Local Plan 2024 – 2043 and all other supporting documents. The Authority cannot accept anonymous submissions during this representation period, as these cannot be considered by the Planning Inspector under the legislative requirements for the Public Examination process. Other personal data will remain subject to GDPR legislation and will be processed in accordance with the National Park Authority’s data protection policy and privacy notice.

How to be notified about the next stages of the National Park Local Plan:

When submitting a representation, respondents may provide an email address. Anyone who does so can choose to receive Local Plan progress updates, and their email address will be added to the Local Plan consultation database. If you wish to be removed from this database, please contact policy@newforestnpa.gov.uk.

What happens next:

The Authority will record and summarise the main issues raised in representations on the Proposed Submission Local Plan.

The National Park Authority is required to submit its draft Local Plan, accompanying evidence base, any proposed modifications, and all representations made during the forthcoming Regulation 19 consultation to the Government by the end of December 2026. Once submitted, the draft Plan will be subject to independent Public Examination by a Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. This process is likely to continue for most of 2027 and will assess whether the Local Plan is legally compliant and sound. The Public Examination will include public hearing sessions led by the Planning Inspector.

If you have objected to the Plan, or have requested a change should be made, and wish to participate in the Examination, please state this in your representations.

Further information and contact details:

The Authority’s website offers further information on the consultation www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/LocalPlanReview and the next stages in the process.

Documents can be made available in an alternative format or translated on request.

If you have any questions about the New Forest National Park Draft Local Plan 2024 – 2043 consultation, please contact the Policy Team at policy@newforestnpa.gov.uk or at Policy Team, Lymington Town Hall, Avenue Road, Lymington, SO41 9ZG.