Decision statement for the making of the New Milton neighbourhood plan 2016-2036 July 2021

Decision

Following an Independent Examination and a positive referendum result on 6 May 2021, New Forest District Council (NFDC) and the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) have decided pursuant to section 38A(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Art 2004 (as amended) and Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, to 'make' the New Milton Neighbourhood Plan (the 'Plan'). For NFDC this decision was made on 21st June 2021, and for the NPA this was made on 1st July 2021.

Both planning authorities concluded that the Plan does not breach, and would not otherwise be incompatible with, any EU obligation or any of the Convention rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998). The Plan-preparation process was compliant with legal and procedural requirements and more than half of those who voted in the referendum, voted in favour of making the Plan.

Background

In August 2019, New Milton Town Council submitted its draft Neighbourhood Plan and supporting material to NFDC and the NPA. An independent examiner was appointed, and his report was received in December 2019. The Examiner's Report concluded that the New Milton Plan met the basic conditions and other legal requirements, subject to modifications.

NFDC and the NPA considered the recommendations and modifications contained in the Examiner's Report at their respective meetings of 24 February 2020 (NFDC) and 23 January 2020 (NPA). The planning authorities agreed that the legal requirements and basic conditions had been met.

The Referendum

New Forest District Council administered the local referendum on behalf of both planning authorities on 6 May 2021. A majority (87.9%) of those voting in the referendum voted in favour of the plan. No other issues have become known that would suggest that the planning authorities should decline the make the plan.

The referendum result is as follows:

The area covered by the New Milton Neighbourhood Plan

The Neighbourhood Plan area covers the area of New Milton Parish only.

What this means for the New Milton Neighbourhood Plan area

Under the English 'Plan-led' system, statutory development plans set out the planning policies for the development and use of land. Planning applications are determined by local planning authorities such as New Forest District Council and New Forest National Park Authority in accordance with the adopted development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The Neighbourhood Plan forms part of the development plan for the New Milton parish, alongside the adopted New Forest District Local Plan Part One: Planning Strategy (2020) and Part Two: Sites and Development Management (2014); and the adopted New Forest National Park Local Plan (2019). Now formally adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan and its policies will be given full weight when assessing planning applications that affect land within the parish of New Milton.

For further information

This Decision Statement and the 'made' (i.e. adopted) New Milton Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed, during normal opening hours at:

• New Forest District Council, Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA.

• New Forest National Park Authority, Lymington Town Hall, Avenue Road, Lymington, SO41 9ZG.

• New Milton Town Council, 2 Ashley Rd, New Milton BH25 6AS.

The adopted New Milton Neighbourhood Plan and supporting information can also be found on New Forest District Council's website at www.newforest.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanning and on the National Park Authority's website at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood-planning

Policy & Plans Team

New Forest District Council

policyandplans@nfdc.gov.uk

Policy Team

New Forest National Park Authority

policy@newforestnpa.gov.uk

5 July 2021