Letter: Make your voice heard in New Forest District Council’s Local Plan review

Discussions with local residents during the General Election campaign last year showed many are concerned about the lack of local affordable and social housing and the use of development sites for retirement communities and housing for over-60s. We now have an opportunity to do something about this.

NFDC is reviewing the Local Plan, and we are being consulted about its scope and the issues therein. This offers a chance to ensure that the Local Plan in future contains provision to manage housing for the population according to local need and not developer profit.

I suggest as a starter that NFDC makes a local decision that it will no longer give permission for any housing which is restricted to a certain age of resident. NFDC could also decide to address the problem of developers owning sites designated for housing but not building on them until market conditions suit the developers. The current formulae used to work out the amount of affordable housing which needs to be included in any development must also be revised to favour the community and not the developer.

I urge people to attend the information drop in sessions being held throughout NFDC to discuss the plan and to respond to the consultation. The consultation information and details about the drop in sessions is available on https://newforest.gov.uk/localplan

This document tells us that the New Forest area is one of the few in the country where the population is actually decreasing, although it is becoming older. It is vital to ensure that there is somewhere to live for those who will work in our community, teach our children and look after us as we age.

Gill Turner

Lymington