New Forest District Council has delayed its Regulation 18 Local Plan review consultation until at least the first quarter of next year.
The public consultation on the Spatial Options and Policy Direction document was due to be held in November/December of this year.
But the council has now placed it on pause until it hears the outcome of the government’s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) consultation in January 2026.
The LGR consultation relates to the current government proposals for reorganisation of groups of authorities which are not Mayoral regions.
NFDC are part of a proposal for western Hampshire that would also include Test Valley, Eastleigh, Portsmouth and Southampton amongst the parties.
KPPC Planning Director Adam Bennett says that if this reorganisation happens, the NFDC plan process could be substantially delayed or indeed could be set aside altogether with a more cohesive regional based plan prepared instead.
He adds: “The Mayoral Authority decision is likely to take place in May 2026, so we will know in the short term whether this is likely to be going forwards.
“It is presumed that NFDC will be awaiting the publication of the responses to the LGR Consultation thereafter and not just the closure of the consultation; so the current expected NFDC Local Plan Review timelines as set out within the Local Development Scheme (LDS) could be pushed substantially back from their current stated position.”
The schedule currently timetables Section 19 public consultation on the Published Plan for Autumn/Winter next year before submission of the plan for independent examination by the end of 2026.
This may all be academic if the Mayoral Authority is formed. If LGR does not go ahead for the area, submission of the NFDC Local Plan for examination will be pushed back some way into 2027 and any adoption prospectively into 2028.
The council says that it ‘recognises that this is a critical period for our communities and partners to engage fully with the LGR process, particularly given the potential implications for future governance arrangements and strategic planning across the New Forest’.
It adds: “In light of this, it was concluded by the council that progressing both consultations concurrently would not be in the best interests of effective public engagement.
“We would like to thank all those who have engaged with/contributed to the Local Plan review process to date through the Issues and Scope consultation and Call for Sites.
“All responses will continue to be taken into consideration as work on the new Local Plan progresses.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to reassure you that, despite this temporary pause, the council remains firmly committed to the preparation of a robust and deliverable Local Plan.”
KPPC will keep you updated about the future timetable but, in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more about what this may mean for your plans or project.
ENDS
