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New Forest - the designation process

The process to designate a National Park in the New Forest began in October 1999 and the Countryside Agency was set two tasks: to identify a suitable boundary for the National Park and prepare advice to government. This advice set out the arrangements needed to set up a National Park Authority that would manage the area and take into account the special circumstances within the forest.


A public consultation was held on the boundary late in 2000, after which the proposals were revised as a result of new evidence put forward. In June of 2001, we consulted with the local authorities within the area as required by existing legislation.  

A further public consultation on the administrative arrangements for a proposed National Park was also launched. The Countryside Agency held public road-show events and staff talked directly to local people about the proposals.

In February 2002, the Countryside Agency published a Designation Order for a New Forest National Park. This set out the proposed boundary. It was also the basis for our advice to Government on special arrangements to ensure a National Park Authority could be established to best meet the needs of this unique area of the country. The designation order was placed on deposit and there was a four-week period for objections to be made.

As a result, a public inquiry was held to examine the boundary and administrative arrangements for the National Park. This ran from October 2002 through to April 2003. The Planning Inspector prepared a report of his findings, which has been published on the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website.

On the 28 June 2004, on the basis of the Inspector’s recommendations, the Minister for Rural Affairs, Alun Michael announced his intention to confirm the Designation Order, with modifications, so creating a New Forest National Park.

Under the provisions of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949 there was a further period of consultation on the proposed additions before the Designation Order was confirmed. Details of the amendments were advertised in the national and local press and a public hearing held to hear objections to these additions.

On the 1 March 2005 the then Minister for Rural Affairs, Alun Michael, confirmed the formal designation of the New Forest National Park.

The law provides six weeks following issue of a National Park designation confirmation order for challenges to be made in the High Court to the legality of the designation.  Two challenges were made to the New Forest designation.  One related to land around Fawley Power Station and resulted in a Court Consent Order dated 8 March  2006 excluding the disputed land from the National Park.  The other related to land at the Hinton Park estate near Christchurch, and also resulted in land being taken out of designation.  The Hinton Park action has had wider implications for National Park designation generally, and has led to changes to the legislation governing it.