A PLAN setting out New Forest District Council’s vision for the future development of the area, including Fordingbridge and Ringwood, has moved a step forward. 

The Local Plan has gone before planning inspectors and following public hearings in the summer, the council says it welcomes confirmation from inspectors that the plan can be made ‘sound’ with just a few tweaks and changes.

The plan identifies strategic sites for housing development across the district, outside of National Park jurisdiction. 

In Fordingbridge, the plan has earmarked developments of at least 140 homes on land to the north of Station Road, Ashford with at least 330 more on land at Whitsbury Road.

This would be in addition to the 145 homes which have already been permitted. 

But a modification to the plan has been recommended to include an additional parcel of land at Burgate, within the boundary of ‘Strategic Site 18’, which would allow for a further 50 homes to be built - increasing the figure from at least 350 to 400. 

In Ringwood, the plan outlines proposals for at least 480 new homes for land north of Moortown Lane and 270 homes on land to the north of Hightown Road. 

As well as this, the Local Plan housing target has reduced from around 10,500 homes to at least 10,420 for the period of 2016 to 2036.

Planning inspectors said: “We do not consider any main modifications are required to the broad spatial strategy, the overall scale of housing or employment land provision (other than a slight adjustment to fully align housing requirement with the OAN [objectively assessed need (housing)] figure) or the principle of any of the strategic site allocations.

"The main modifications largely relate to the detailed wording of Policies or supporting text and are necessary to ensure that the Local Plan is justified, effective and consistent with national policy.”

Planning portfolio holder and deputy leader of the district council Edward Heron said: “The Local Plan is the council’s vision and strategy for the future of this area.

“We have worked hard to strike the right balance between protecting our sensitive environment and the character of our area, whilst also providing the new homes, jobs and facilities that our communities need.

“We are very pleased that the Local Plan has passed this significant milestone, and I would like to thank the inspectors and everyone who has participated in the process.”

The council and planning inspectors will now agree a timetable to make the changes to the Local Plan, which will be published for a public consultation of at least six weeks.

The council says this consultation is likely to start before Christmas. Inspectors will then consider consultation feedback and issue a final report.

If the Local Plan is adopted it becomes the statutory basis for making planning decision in the New Forest district.

For more information about the Local Plan go to newforest.gov.uk