The New Forest District Council has two planning policy consultations out at present. The Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document which sets out site specific policies including housing allocations within the district is at the pre-submission stage and is being consulted on until 02 March 2012. Following the consultation the document will be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination.
The Council is also consulting on a preliminary Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedule (visit our Intelligence page for a Briefing Note on CIL). The proposal is straightforward – residential proposals will pay £80 per sqm and large retail developments (over 2000 sqm) will pay £200 per sqm and all other types of development will pay nothing. This is quite interesting given that most other types of development at present are subject to a fairly stiff transport contribution where there is an increase in traffic movements. The Council is consulting until 27 February 2012 and anticipates eventually adopting the CIL charges early in 2013.
The new policies will apply only to the areas of the District outside of the National Park – Totton, Hythe and the waterside, Ringwood, Fordingbridge and the Avon Valley, New Milton, Barton on Sea, Milford on Sea and Lymington.
Contact Pure Town Planning if you have any queries on the draft policies.