Planning Policy Overview

National Planning Policy

In December 2023, the Government updated its National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NPPF reiterates the Government’s support for National Parks, stating that they have ‘…the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty…’ and that great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in National Parks (paragraph 182).

Local Plan

In late 2015 we began reviewing the Authority’s Core Strategy (2010). Following extensive evidence gathering and public consultation the draft Local Plan was subject to independent examination by two planning inspectors. Hearing sessions were held in November 2018 and March 2019. The inspectors found the Local Plan was sound subject to a number of modifications. The final Local Plan was adopted at a full Authority meeting on 29 August 2019, and is accompanied by a Policies Map, which can be viewed on our Local Plan webpage here.

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)

We have also prepared and adopted a number of Supplementary Planning Documents to provide greater detail on a number of policies.

These Supplementary Planning Documents have been through a statutory public consultation period and are material in the consideration of planning applications within the National Park. In October 2019 we reviewed the weight to be afforded to our SPDs following the adoption of the new Local Plan in August 2019 – further details are available on our Supplementary Planning Documents page.

Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)

Annual Monitoring Reports are published at the start of every year looking back at the preceding financial year (April – March). The annual Reports review the performance of the current planning policies covering the National Park and also progress made in Local Plan preparation.

Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)

This was formally adopted by the Authority in July 2023. The document sets out how we intend to consult the community and other stakeholders on producing local development documents and planning applications.

Local Development Scheme

We are required to publish a Local Development Scheme setting out the timetable for preparing our revised Local Plan over the next three years. The Local Development Scheme sets out the timetable for the main milestones during the preparation, consultation, examination and adoption of the revised Local Plan.

Our revised Local Development Scheme was brought into effect on 25 July 2024 and can be viewed below. There is a separate Hampshire Minerals and Waste Local Development Framework which covers the National Park.