the New Forest News
The latest the New Forest news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Lymington Bath Road Plan Would Fill In Pond: Say by 21 Oct
A £1.3m plan for Bath Road recreation ground in Lymington includes filling in the sea water pond and replacing the bandstand. Comments close 21 October.
More stories
Health
Smoking costs Hampshire £900m a year: free Stoptober help
Smoking costs Hampshire more than £900m a year and 100,000 adults still smoke. This Stoptober, text QUIT to 80011 for free local help, no GP visit needed.
Lymington
Princess Royal Joins Lymington Junior Sailing's £1 Finale
The Princess Royal watched Lymington's £1-a-week junior sailing on 23 September, two years after an accident kept her from its 40th birthday.
Crime
New Milton Crash: Biker Critical, Three Drivers Arrested
A motorcyclist has life-threatening injuries after a four-vehicle crash on Ashley Road, New Milton. Three drivers were arrested; police want dashcam footage.
Water
Pennington sewage works spilled for 922 hours before its £17m fix
Pennington's storm overflow discharged for 922 hours in 2025, the longest of any New Forest works. Southern Water began a £17m upgrade on 15 September.
House prices
New Forest house prices July 2026: £94 higher than a year ago
The district average was £384,977 in July, up £94 on a year earlier and still 8.1% below the 2022 peak. Flats fell 3% and are back at 2020 prices.
Crime
New Forest Fire Stations Burgled: Burley and Fordingbridge
Rescue equipment was stolen from Burley and Fordingbridge fire stations overnight on 5 September. Police want footage from between 4.30am and 5am.
Parking
New Forest Parking: Council Asks for £24 to £48 Local Pass
Councillors want a New Forest residents' parking pass at £24 to £48 against the £96 national rate. Forestry England stopped adding local schemes in 2024.
Planning
Totton Masterplan: 1,000 Homes and a New Civic Square
The draft Totton masterplan sketches around 1,000 homes, a civic square on Library Road and a relocated station. Councillors saw it on 10 September.
Licensing
Sandy Balls licence granted: poolside bar and 4 film nights
Away Resorts got everything it asked for at Sandy Balls, Godshill: a poolside bar until 10pm and outdoor films four nights a week, with no season limit.
Licensing
Dibden Purlieu Wetherspoon: last orders 12.30am, not 1am
The Heath Hotel at Dibden Purlieu is open as a Wetherspoon. Councillors capped alcohol sales at 12.30am every night, not the 1am asked for, after 43 objections.
Planning
New Forest planning: councillors lose call-in on 31 October
Six of the seven cases before the planning committee on Wednesday are there only because a town or parish council objected. That trigger goes on 31 October.
Planning
Fordingbridge 53 homes: land row stalled the deal 2 years
The section 106 stalled when the neighbouring developer refused to be bound by it. The applicant has now cut that land out. Committee decides again on Wednesday.
Council
New Forest CIL bids: 91 projects want £4.4m from £1m pot
Schools, clubs and parish councils asked for £4,368,111 from the district's developer levy. The council has allocated about £1m to local infrastructure.
Food hygiene
New Forest food hygiene: all 28 August ratings scored 5
Every New Forest food hygiene rating published in August was a 5, from the Montagu Arms to Lidl in Hythe. No premises in the district currently holds a zero.
Council
New Forest community grants to end in 2027, saving £113,000
The district's £85,000 revenue grant scheme and its capital grants both close from April 2027. Each councillor's own grant rises to £2,500 instead.
Council
Ringwood park homes: council seeks £161,000 to fix wiring
New Forest District Council owns Stillwater Park's 69 plots and says it cannot yet evidence the site's electrical safety. Cabinet decides on 2 September.
House prices
New Forest house prices up £4,050 in June to £380,310
The district average rose 1.1% in June, the third-biggest jump in Hampshire. Flats are the only type still falling, and May was revised up by £532.
Licensing
Sandy Balls licence: poolside bar decision on 25 August
Away Resorts wants a mobile bar at the outdoor pool and four outdoor film nights a week. Godshill Parish Council objects and NFDC has logged 9 noise complaints.
Beaulieu
National Motor Museum to leave Beaulieu as lease ends 2030
The Trust is looking for a new home as its 60-year lease runs down. Beaulieu says four years remain, the Montagu cars stay and the Autojumble is on.
Lymington
Lymington rowers take 5 of 6 J16 medals at English champs
Lymington Amateur Rowing Club won six medals at the English Junior Beach Sprint Championships on 11 August, including five of the six in the J16 events.