Community involvement

How the National Park Authority involves people in its planning work

All local planning authorities are required to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) setting out how they will engage with local residents, businesses and other organisations in their work, including the development of planning policy documents and the determination of planning applications.

The Authority adopted its first SCI in 2007, and was revised in 2013. Since then there have been significant changes within the national planning system and it is necessary to update the document again in 2023.

A period of public consultation on the updated SCI was held between April and June 2023,  and a summary of the responses can be viewed in the Consultation Statement (link below). This document also sets out how the Authority has amended the SCI to take account of these responses as appropriate. The SCI was adopted at a full Authority meeting on 13 July 2023.

The SCI is relevant to anyone who lives, works, or does business in the New Forest National Park. It sets out when, how, and for what reasons you can participate in planning processes or issues.

The Statement of Community Involvement 2023 can be viewed here as well as via the link in the box at the foot of this page.