The New Forest is known internationally as an area of great landscape and ecological value. Seventy-one percent of the district has now been designated a National Park. Since 1 April 2006 the New Forest National Park Authority has been the planning authority for the National Park area. The District Council continues to undertake all its other functions across the whole area of the district including the National Park. View a map of the National Park area
Outside of the National Park there are many important areas which include the Cranbourne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the north-west, the Avon Valley, the west coast of Southampton Water and the coast of Christchurch Bay, together with numerous Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings, and large areas of residential and commercial development. The New Forest District Council Planning Service strives to protect and enhance all of these areas whilst promoting economic growth and essential facilities for the population of the District.
The New Forest Planning and Transportation Service is divided into five teams. They are:-
Development Control
Planning Policy
Building Control
Environmental Design
Transportation
View the organisation chart for the service. 
View the organisation chart for Development Control only
Development Control
The Development Control section currently deals with all planning applications and appeals made within its area. We can offer advice on the need for planning permission and provide informal comments as to whether planning permission is likely to be granted for proposals before they are submitted.
Planning Conditions - How to seek approval.
From 1 April 2009 New Forest District Council will charge a fee for any submissions seeking the discharge of conditions on a planning permission or confirmation that the requirements of a condition have been met.
Some important changes which affect anyone making a planning application were brought in in August 2006.
These changes relate to the information to be provided with an outline application and the matters that may be reserved for later consideration. In addition, most planning applications will require the submission of a Design and Access Statement.
We have written two short guidance notes to explain these changes and what you need to do to meet the requirements. View the New Forest District Council Advice Note and the Design and Access Statement.
Our website contains information to assist you to:
- get planning advice,
- make an enquiry as to whether planning permission is required,
- understand what can and cannot be considered when we determine a planning application,
- make an online search for a planning application, and view application details - including plans and letters of representation received* (*from 1 July 2008)
- make an online search for a planning appeal and view appeal decision letters,
- know what to do if you think that something has been built without the right planning permission or not in accordance with the approved plans,
- find out if your property is located in an area at risk of flooding, and if it is give advice on what additional information you need to provide when you submit a planning application
- find out details about the Planning Committee, including seeing reports and agendas.
- find out about likely Developer Contributions.
In addition to the planning information contained in our own web pages, there is a wealth of general planning information and advice (view here), including whether planning permission is required and how to submit an application on the Planning Portal. You can also complete and submit and application form electronically via the Planning Portal.
The Government have confirmed that from 1 October 2008 significant changes will be made to permitted development rights through the introduction of a new General Permitted Development Order. The effect of these changes will be that works previously considered to be permitted development might require planning permission if carried out post 1 October and that works that currently need permission after that date might not. You can find out how this may affect you on Planning Advice page and the Planning Portal.
It is however recommended that you do not solely rely on the advice on the Planning Portal due to the need to interpret the advice given. Please contact New Forest District Council using one of our enquiry forms so we can advise if Planning Permission is required.
Policy and Plans
The current Local Plan for the area is the New Forest District Local Plan First Alteration Adopted August 2005. The planning system has changed. Local Plans are to be replaced by Local Development Frameworks.
The Local Development Framework (LDF) comprises a series of Local Development Plan Documents, which may be either statutory Development Plan Documents (DPD) or non-statutory Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD). The Local Development Framework also includes a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR). The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the detailed programme for the production of Local Development Framework documents over the next three years.
1APP - The National Standard Planning Application Form
Adopted 1APP Local Requirements
The New Forest District Council 1APP local planning requirements for all planning application types were agreed by the Planning Development Control Committee on 12 March 2008. The 1APP National Planning Application form are now mandatory for use by all planning applications submitted to all Local Planning Authorities on or after 6 April 2008 (tree works from 1 October 2008).
Follow the links to find out more information about 1APP and see the adopted 1APP checklists.
