All local planning authorities must have a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). This document explains how we involve local residents, businesses and organisations in our planning work, including preparing planning policies and making decisions on planning applications.
We as the National Park Authority first adopted our SCI in 2007, with a revision in 2013. Since then, there have been significant changes to the national planning system, so the SCI was updated again in 2023 to make sure it remains current and effective.
We carried out a public consultation on the updated SCI between April and June 2023. A summary of the comments received is available in the Consultation Statement (see documents to the right of this page). This also explains how the SCI was amended in response to feedback where appropriate. The updated SCI was formally adopted at a full Authority meeting on 13 July 2023.
The SCI is relevant to anyone who lives, works, or runs a business in the New Forest National Park. It explains when and how you can get involved in planning matters, and the different ways you can have your say on planning policies and applications.