Next steps local plan

Issues and Scope consultation

This Issues and Scope consultation is the first stage in preparing our new Local Plan and runs from Monday 17 February 2025 until Friday 4 April 2025.

It is important to clarify that at this stage no views have been formed on the scale of growth, which sites and locations should be allocated for new development, how adopted policies should be updated or whether there should be any additional policies. Key evidence base studies, and the responses to the Issues and Scope consultation document will help to inform and contribute to the development of detailed planning policies and proposals at later stages of the plan making process.

The next stage in the preparation of the Local Plan following this consultation, is expected to be the preparation of a range of draft planning policies and proposed site allocations to meet the level of growth we are planning for. We hope to consult on these in the form of a full draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) later this year. The development and consideration of spatial options will also need to take account of a range of influences such as the plans of adjoining authorities and planned infrastructure provision.

Following consultation on the draft Local Plan, the Council will prepare the final version of the new Local Plan (Regulation 19) that it intends to submit for Examination - known as the 'Publication' or 'Pre-submission' Local Plan. There will be another round of consultation at this stage and the opportunity for comments to be made on whether the proposed Local Plan is 'sound' and legally compliant. The timetable for this is still to be determined but all information on the plan-making timetable will be updated in the Council's Local Development Scheme which currently timetables to the end of the 2025. This timetable will be updated in response to the comments made in this Issues and Scope consultation and taking account of any further announcements of changes in legislation from government.

Consultation question:

50. Are there any other issues that you feel we have missed and should be addressed?

How to respond to the consultation

This consultation is running from Monday 17 February 2025 until Friday 4 April 2025 and we look forward to hearing from you.

You can respond to the consultation by visiting our website Local Plan review - New Forest District Council, from here you will find all the details on how to respond.

If you have any queries, please do contact the team by emailing policyandplans@nfdc.gov.ukor calling 023 8028 5345 and selecting option 1.

Glossary of key terms

A glossary of key terms can be viewed via: https://www.planningportal.co.uk/services/help/glossary