Residents are being invited to comment on the revised draft Local Plan for the New Forest National Park during a six-week public consultation, running from 17 August to 30 September 2026.
The Local Plan sets out the planning policies that will guide future development across the National Park.
This consultation is an important opportunity for local people to have their say before the Plan is submitted to the Government for independent examination.
Fields at Knellers Lane have been suggested as suitable for a development of 50 to 70 dwellings.
The Parish Council’s response during the initial consultation period was that we were concerned about the creeping suburbanisation of our village, and the loss of its rural character; the diminution of the green buffer zone between Ashurst and West Totton; the impact on infrastructure, particularly traffic, public transport and pedestrian and cycle access, and the risk of flooding in this area.
Many residents also commented. However, these comments will not be carried forward to this phase of the consultation, so it is vitally important that you comment again on this final draft plan.
A series of public drop-in sessions will be held across the National Park, with all sessions open from 2.00pm to 7.00pm.
Visitors can speak informally with National Park Authority officers between 2.00pm and 5.00pm, followed by a presentation at 5.30pm explaining the proposed changes and the next steps in the process, with a question-and-answer session afterwards.
- Wednesday 2 September: Landford Village Hall, Lyndhurst Road, Landford
- Friday 4 September: Bartley Village Hall, Bourne Road, Woodlands
- Monday 7 September: The Copythorne & District Royal British Regional Hall, Southampton Road, Cadnam
- Tuesday 8 September: Jubilee Field, Station Road, Sway
- Friday 11 September: Lyndhurst Community Centre, Main Car Park, Lyndhurst
- Wednesday 16 September: Redlynch Village Hall, Vicarage Road, Redlynch
If you are unable to attend in person, an online information session will be held on Thursday 10 September, 4.00pm–5.30pm.
The revised draft Plan and consultation documents will be available online, and comments can be submitted at Local Plan Public Consultation
Further information, including details of all drop-in sessions, will be available at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/LocalPlanReview. Assistance is also available by emailing policy@newforestnpa.gov.uk or calling 01590 646600.