New Forest District Council has published the Part 2 Green Belt Assessment prepared by LUC (Land Use Consultants) and finalised in February 2026. The study represents a comprehensive update to the district’s 2016 Green Belt Study and has been produced to inform both the emerging Local Plan Review and day-to-day development management decisions under the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Critically, the assessment redefines which settlements qualify as ‘large built-up areas’ for the purposes of Green Belt policy – a designation which will now include Ringwood, New Milton (including Barton on Sea) and Lymington, together with the neighbouring Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbation. This redefinition directly determines how land adjacent to these settlements contributes to Green Belt Purpose A, and consequently which parcels across the district are identified as potentially suitable for definition as Grey Belt land.
“The publication of NFDC’s Part 2 Green Belt Assessment is a significant moment in the Local Plan Review process, and one that warrants careful scrutiny,” states Jonathan Leigh, Associate Director at Chapman Lily Planning. “Having reviewed the assessment, we have already identified instances where the Grey Belt parcel ratings do not sit consistently with one another, raising legitimate questions about the robustness and internal coherence of the methodology as applied across the district. Where assessments can be shown to be inconsistent or open to challenge, there is clear scope to explore the validity and strength of those conclusions – and this may well open up opportunities for landowners and developers that might not otherwise be apparent from the assessment on its face.”
Call us for more information on how Chapman Lily Planning can help you understand the implications of the Part 2 Green Belt Assessment for your land or development interests. Our experienced team can provide detailed appraisals of individual parcel assessments, advise on representations to the merging Local Plan, and identify potential opportunities arising from the Grey Belt classification process across New Forest District
.