Mitigating recreational impacts
All applications for net new dwellings and other forms of overnight accommodation are required to address their recreational impacts on internationally protected sites. For the New Forest’s designated sites, all new development within the National Park is required to address impacts. In addition, development within 5.6km of the Solent’s protected sites is also required to address recreational impacts.
Established recreation mitigation schemes have been adopted for both the New Forest and Solent. These schemes set out a package of measures to address the recreational impacts arising from new development.
The National Park Authority has prepared a template for completing Unilateral Undertakings to enable a financial contribution to be made to the Authority for ecological mitigation. The obligations usually take effect when planning permission is granted, and you will need to pay the contribution before you commence development. The Unilateral Undertaking template and accompanying guidance note is included here.
