The New Forest Council Planning Committee was scheduled to convene to address several planning applications and procedural matters. The agenda included reviewing planning applications for various locations within the district, ranging from Everton to Fordingbridge, and setting meeting dates for the following year. The committee was also expected to discuss and consider updates to strategic planning policies.

Planning Applications

The committee was scheduled to review and make decisions on several planning applications:

• White Croft, Farmers Walk, Everton, Hordle, SO41 0JZ A request for permission to build a new dwelling behind the existing house, along with a cycle store and landscaping. The plans also included changes to the existing house, such as a porch canopy and window alterations. The Service Manager Development Management had recommended that delegated authority be given to grant permission, pending a Section 106 agreement¹ to secure habitat mitigation, Bird Aware Solent, and air quality monitoring. Hordle Parish Council had recommended refusal, citing over-development and that the plans were out of character with the area.
• 5 Wiltshire Road, Bransgore, BH23 8BH An application to build side and rear extensions, add a new roof to create a second floor, and include a rear dormer. The recommendation was to grant the application, subject to conditions. Bransgore Parish Council recommended refusal, stating that the dormer windows would be out of keeping and affect neighbours' privacy.
• 1 Oak View, Hythe, SO45 5AL A request to erect new fencing and gates along the drive and front boundary, as well as an open-sided gazebo. The recommendation was to refuse this application. Hythe & Dibden Parish Council recommended permission.
• 34 Ashley Common Road, Ashley, New Milton, BH25 5AR An application to build a garden annexe for ancillary accommodation. The recommendation was to grant permission, subject to conditions. New Milton Town Council objected, raising concerns about backland development and the potential for future subdivision of the property.
• SS18 Middle Burgate House, Salisbury Road, Burgate, Fordingbridge, SP6 1LX A hybrid application involving both outline and full planning permission. The outline part concerned the erection of 41 dwellings, demolition of agricultural structures, access works, landscaping, and public open space. The full part focused on converting and extending an existing building into four flats and erecting a block of eight flatted units, totalling 53 dwellings. The Service Manager Development Management had recommended that delegated authority be given to grant permission, allowing 12 months for completing the Section 106 agreement.

SS18 Middle Burgate House

The report pack included an update on application 22/11268 for SS18 Middle Burgate House, noting that the committee had previously resolved to grant permission subject to a Section 106 agreement. The Section 106 agreement was to secure:

Affordable housing provision and maintenance, Air quality monitoring contribution, ANRG, POS and play space provision and maintenance, Biodiversity net gain including any off-site contributions, County Council S106 agreement preparation charge, District Council monitoring charges, Drainage management and monitoring arrangements, Habitat mitigation non infrastructure contribution

The update also noted that a planning permission for a new link road through Strategic Site 18 was using the Middle Burgate access onto Salisbury Road A338 as a temporary construction access.

The report pack noted that the original committee report stated that a 10% net gain on the ecological value of the site should be sought, but that the applicant's agent had pointed out that the 10% level was legally mandated for applications made after 12 February 2024, and the current application was submitted in November 2022. The report pack stated that it would be necessary to amend the recommendation so that there is a measurable level of gain of at least 1%.

Meeting Dates 2026/2027

The committee was also scheduled to agree on the meeting dates for 2026 and 2027, with meetings set for Wednesdays at 9:00 am.