COUNCIL – 8 JULY 2024                                                     

RINGWOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN – MAKING THE PLAN (REFERENDUM AND DECISION ON ADOPTION)

SUPPLEMENTARY UPDATE

1. RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that Council:

i. notes the outcome of the Referendum of 4 July 2024; and

ii. agrees that the Ringwood Neighbourhood Plan be ‘made’ (adopted) as part of the Development Plan for New Forest District (Outside the National Park).

2. RESULT OF THE 4^th JULY REFERENDUM

2.1 Further to the provisions of the main report, officers can confirm that 83.2% of votes recorded answered ‘yes’ to the question: ‘Do you want New Forest District Council and New Forest National Park Authority to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Ringwood to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?’. The turnout was 58.93%

2.2 As the majority of those who voted (i.e. over 50%) are in favour of the draft Neighbourhood Plan, then the Plan should be ‘made’ (adopted) by both New Forest District Council (NFDC) and the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) within 8 weeks of the Referendum date.

2.3 The only circumstance where the District Council should not make this decision is where the making of the plan would breach, or would otherwise be incompatible with, the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights and the UK Human Rights Act 1998, including equality implications. The examiner considered this matter independently and found no evidence that the Plan breaches these human rights. The District Council concurs with that position.

2.4 Upon formal adoption the Neighbourhood Plan becomes legally part of the statutory Development Plan for the determination of planning applications. 

3. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 Having drawn up a Neighbourhood Plan and secured the consent of local people in a referendum, the parish of Ringwood would (upon adoption of the Plan) benefit from the proportion of Community Infrastructure Levy revenues generated from the development that takes place in its area increasing from 15% to 25%.

4. PORTFOLIO HOLDER COMMENTS

4.1 I am delighted that the electors of Ringwood have approved this Plan which will enable them to shape the future of their town. It is a successful end to a long process for those involved.

For further information contact:   Background Papers:

  Andrew Herring Appendix 1 – Ringwood Neighbourhood Plan

  (Planning Policy Officer)                                                          (Final Version, May 2024)

  Tim Guymer                                                        Appendix 2 – Examiners Report
  (Acting Assistant Director – Place Development) Appendix 3 – NFDC Decision Statement

  Debbie Everett
  (Electoral Services Manager)

andrew.herring@nfdc.gov.uk

tim.guymer@nfdc.gov.uk

debbie.everett@nfdc.gov.uk