Spatial Options and Policy Direction - Regulation 18

The Regulation 18 Spatial Options and Policy Direction document can be viewed here. The questions in this consultation correspond with the chapters in this document.

We are pleased to be sharing this next step in shaping the future of our plan area and are now asking for your views on what matters most.

This stage of the Local Plan sets out a preferred policy direction on what you have told us the big issues are - delivering genuinely affordable homes, tackling climate change, improving health and wellbeing, improved infrastructure, climate resilience, and the protection of the New Forest’s unique character.

It is not a final set of policies just yet, but your continued feedback will help us shape the full draft we plan to publish for consultation next year.

We are facing a challenging time, with national planning policy changes meaning we need to plan for significantly more housing, alongside a declining population and the need to further the purposes of both the New Forest National Park and Cranborne Chase National Landscape.

New government policy means that this plan will need to be more forward-thinking when it comes to infrastructure, health, and wellbeing. It means delivering new homes that are truly affordable and built to be net-zero in operation. Our plan’s policies need to be achievable - capable of being delivered without making development unviable or putting too much strain on what we already have. 

We have taken on board what you told us at the issues and scope stage and now want to hear your views on how we are taking these forward.

• What are your views on options for growth?
• What do you think about our preffered policy direction?
• What is missing?
• What should we do differently?

This is your chance to help shape the New Forest as a place for people to live, work and prosper.

For more information please visit our Local Plan Page on the New Forest District Council website. You can also see the drop in session materials here. You may also wish to refer to this Frequently Asked Questions document covering common questions related to the consultation and use of the GoVocal platform.

Please note, you will be given an opportunity at the end of the survey to upload any documents that support your representation to this consultation.

An additional call for sites is also being carried out for more details see the project here

How to navigate the survey:

To submit a response to this consultation click on the button at the top of this page ‘Respond to the consultation’. You will first be asked to enter some personal details which are required as part of the consultation process and some optional demographic questions. Once you have completed that page click the next button in the bottom right to continue to the chapter on the draft local plan vision. All the questions from this point on are optional. You can respond to any question you would like and leave blank any other questions you don’t wish to answer.

If there is a specific issue you would like to address in your representation the guide below shows you which pages of the survey address which issues.

Page 1 – Personal details

Page 2 – Draft Vision and Plan Objectives (pages 15-29 of the plan)

Page 3 – Furthering the purposes of the National park and National landscape (pages 30-34 of the plan)

Page 4 – What development do we need to plan for (pages 35-63 of the plan)

Page 5 – Strategic Growth Options (pages 64-121 of the plan)

Page 6 – Homes for all (pages 122-136 of the plan)

Page 7 – Protecting the Natural Environment (pages 137-153 of the plan)

Page 8 – The Green Belt (pages 154-161 of the plan)

Page 9 - High Quality Design, Landscape and Placemaking (pages 162-173 of the plan)

Page 10 – Climate Change and Environmental Risks (pages 174-204 of the plan)

Page 11 – Supporting economic growth and local prosperity (pages 205-237 of the plan)

Page 12 – Planning for and Delivering Infrastructure (pages 238-243 of the plan)

Page 13 – Sustainable Transport (pages 244-250 of the plan)

Page 14 – Open Space, Recreation and Play (pages 251-259 of the plan)

Page 15 – Historic Environment (pages 260-264 of the plan)

Page 16 – Arts and Culture (pages 265-267 of the plan)

Page 17 – Supporting documents - This is an opportunity to upload any documents that support the representation you are making.