On Wednesday 25th January, Ringwood Town Council approved the pre-submission Neighbourhood Plan.  This marks a significant milestone in the development of the Plan - it is mostly complete and ready to start its journey through formal consultation.  During this process, the public, the local planning authorities and other stakeholders will be consulted on this version of the Plan and their feedback will be used to update it.

Chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Cllr John Haywood said: "I'm really pleased to be able to announce that the Neighbourhood Plan is ready for formal consultation.  A lot of hard work by the team has got us to this stage - and most of the team are volunteers giving their time for free.  Thanks go to all who have joined in to produce this Plan for the future development of our town."

Town Mayor Cllr Gareth Deboos said: "A Neighbourhood Plan encourages local development appropriate for a parish by setting conditions on things like housing, design and heritage, and environmental performance. A Plan for Ringwood can restrict inappropriate development as well as encouraging policies that enhance the area, including the centre of our historic market town, for the next decade. The pre-submission document has been produced by Ringwood people for Ringwood people - now is the time for all parishioners to have their say on the Plan."

Public consultation begins on Monday 6 February for a six-week period, ending on 19 March 2023.  A number of public drop-in sessions are planned in Ringwood Gateway, Ringwood Library and Poulner Junior School Community Hall.  Members of the public will also be able to view hard copies of the Plan at Ringwood Gateway and Ringwood Library.  Feedback forms can be obtained and submitted at the Library, Greyfriars, Carvers Clubhouse, the Meeting House and Ringwood Gateway.

The Plan is available to view online at www.ringwoodnp.org.uk, where there is also an online comment form.

Once consultation is complete and the feedback incorporated into a final version of the Plan, it will be examined by a government inspector.  Then finally it will be put to a referendum of the voters of Ringwood, who will make the final decision of whether to accept the Plan.


Dates for the drop-in sessions, when members of the Neighbourhood Plan team will be available to discuss the Plan and answer any questions, are as follows:

Wednesday 15 February       10am – 1pm            Ringwood Gateway

Wednesday 22 February       10am – 1pm            Ringwood Gateway

Friday 24 February               1pm – 7pm               Ringwood Gateway

Saturday 25 February           10.30am - 12.30pm Ringwood Library

Monday 27 February            4pm – 7pm               Ringwood Library

Monday 27 February            6.30pm – 8.30pm     Poulner Junior School Community Hall

Wednesday 1 March             10am – 1pm            Ringwood Gateway

Monday 6 March                  4pm – 7pm               Ringwood Library

Wednesday 8 March             10am – 1pm            Ringwood Gateway

Monday 13 March                4pm – 7pm               Ringwood Library

Wednesday 15 March           10am – 1pm            Ringwood Gateway