New Forest District Council is set to hold a consultation on the review of its local plan towards the end of this year.

Its latest Local Development Scheme update details how this ‘Spatial Options and Policy Direction’ consultation – under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 – will focus on areas of potential growth, emerging themes and principles that will shape the detailed planning policies in the Local Plan.

At this stage, the council will not be finalising policies but rather seeking feedback on the direction it should take.

Reponses will be reviewed to inform the preparation of a draft Local Plan which will be formally published for public consultation in late 2026. This will be the final opportunity for public comment before submission for examination.

It will be submitted for submission for independent examination (under Regulation 22) by the end of 2026 before a public examination hearing in spring/summer 2027, followed by the inspector’s report.

The council expects the plan to be formally adopted around the end of 2027.

Its cabinet approved the Local Development Scheme on August 6.

Clearly, like most other local authorities, New Forest District Council will be obliged to deliver more housing under government reforms.

We will examine the draft documents as the Local Development Scheme progress to identify any issues of concern and opportunities.

Please do get in touch with our friendly and professional team to find out what this will mean for your plans, project or land in the NFDC area, outside of the national park.