New Forest Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan – Hampshire County Council
Summary
AI generated summary
New Forest’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan sets a 10-year strategy (with a review after about 5 years) for improving walking and cycling in the New Forest area, excluding Waterside. It aims to create safer, healthier alternatives to car travel for short trips, supporting climate and carbon goals, links to neighbouring plans, and future transport and active travel funding bids. Expected benefits include cleaner air, less congestion, fewer collisions affecting people and animals, better access for all ages, improved public health, and economic growth. The plan was shaped by stakeholder engagement and a public consultation (September to November 2024) that received several hundred responses and led to major revisions, plus a requested Habitat Regulations Assessment to protect the National Park. It defines primary and secondary utility cycle routes, on- and off-highway leisure cycle networks, and core walking zones in six centres. Delivery will depend on funding and developer contributions…
Document Viewer
New Forest Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)
20 November 2025
Ben Mitchell
Background
The New Forest LCWIP is:
- A strategic approach to cycling and walking improvements in the New Forest area (excluding Waterside),
- A long-term plan with a typical horizon of around 10 years, with a review after approximately 5 years,
- Informed by engagement with key stakeholders and the local community, in addition to a public consultation from 9th September 2024 to 3rd November 2024,
- Adopted HCC policy as of 18th September 2025.
Why did we need it?
- Will help achieve a network of routes and infrastructure that offers safe and healthy alternatives to cars on short journeys
- Climate Emergency / Carbon Neutrality / Local Plans
- Linkages into adjoining LCWIPs
- LTP4 / Active travel funding bids
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Expected outcomes include:
- reduction in air pollution
- lower traffic congestion
- safer roads and fewer collisions – people and animals
- improved accessibility for people of all ages
- healthier communities
- economic growth
Development Process
Post-consultation
- The public consultation was completed in November 2024,
- There were 258 responses to the walking survey, 260 to the cycling survey, 172 comments on the ViewPoint map survey, and 81 unstructured responses,
- Natural England requested a Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) to identify and mitigate potential impacts on the New Forest Park,
- The consultation resulted in significant changes to the draft primary and secondary utility cycle networks.
- These changes were conducted in collaboration with the steering group in 2025 and represented the greatest post-consultation changes of any HCC LCWIP so far.
- The final version of the New Forest LCWIP was adopted on 18 September 2025.
What’s in the New Forest LCWIP?
- Primary Utility Cycle Routes – proposed cycle routes which are likely to have the most people using them for everyday journeys.
- Secondary Utility Cycle Routes – proposed cycle routes which connect primary routes and will likely serve fewer people.
- On-Highway Leisure Cycle Network – proposed leisure routes which are on the highway
- Off-Highway Leisure Cycle Network – proposed leisure routes which are either on public rights of way, or off-road tracks.
- Core Walking Zones – proposed walking improvements in six town/village centres (Ringwood, Fordingbridge, Brockenhurst, Lymington, New Milton and Lyndhurst) which experience the highest footfall.
Next Steps
- Implementation of LCWIP measures will be based on where current and future funding is available.
- Developers will be expected to consider how their development would connect to the LCWIP cycle networks/core walking zones, and either deliver improvements themselves or contribute funding for interventions.
- We will continue to work with our key partners, including the National Park Authority, District Council and Forestry England to identify funding sources and implement LCWIP walking and cycling improvements.
- The LCWIP will feed into future work around strategies and schemes in the New Forest, and we have every expectation that the post-LGR authority will use the LCWIP as a basis for future walking and cycling improvements.
Completed Scheme Examples
Route 280 – Eastleigh Town Centre
Route 276 – Elmleigh Road, Havant
