'Disgraceful' rent demand for commoners' homes sparks New Forest housing row

A LEADING New Forest watchdog group has accused Forestry England of defying government policy by charging full market rents on homes which should be used to support commoning.

Speaking at a meeting of the Verderers’ Court, Tony Hockley, the chairman of the Commoners’ Defence Association, claimed the future of the ancient New Forest tradition was at risk if Forestry England (FE) continued “misappropriating” Crown properties.

The row has erupted over a four-bedroom FE-managed property in Brockenhurst called Little New Park, which was recently advertised for a monthly rent of £1,450, with a commoning restriction.

Describing the cost as “disgraceful”, Dr Hockley revealed he had written to the secretary of state asking him to step in.

“It is a matter of the utmost gravity for the future of commoning in the New Forest,” he said.

Dr Hockley told the court that since succeeding Graham Ferris as chairman of the CDA more than two years ago, nothing had given “great and more consistent concern” than the challenge of ensuring there were suitable and affordable homes for the next generation of commoners.

“We are fortunate that we have a keen and active young commoners’ group in the CDA,” he said. “These young people are willing to commit their lives to sustaining the grazing of the New Forest – an incredible vocational commitment, amongst all the other pressures of modern life, upon which everything that is so special about this landscape depends.”

Dr Hockley said that in a 1991 review into the challenges facing commoning called the Illingworth Report, the secretary of state determined that all 65 FE-managed properties should be prioritised for “those who committed to commoning and New Forest grazing”.

He said the report also concluded these should be available at a cost that was affordable to them.

“Since that time these holdings have enabled families with a long history of commoning to maintain the practice from one generation to the next,” continued Dr Hockley.

“We all benefit from their love of the New Forest, their deep knowledge of the livestock and the landscape, and their lifelong commitment to commoning.”

Dr Hockley claimed the practice of ensuring these properties supported commoning was changed “on a whim” in 2006 when FE (then the Forestry Commission) resolved that charging market rents would help “fill the coffers”, cashing in on property values in England’s least affordable national park.

The Verderers’ Court heard that in 2017, New Forest West MP Sir Desmond Swayne prompted ministers to remind FE that a change of policy to advertise homes at market rents would require a formal and inclusive review, and then a decision by ministers.

Dr Hockley added: “Since then, we have caught the commission advertising cottages to the highest bidder, with no mention of grazing, and allocating them to its own managers, however it sees fit.”

He said FE was now attempting to “entrap” the verderers in its “disgraceful strategy of privatisation by stealth” by involving them in the tenant selection process for Little New Park.

He claimed that without consulting the verderers, rent for the property had been fixed at more than 100% of many young commoners’ household income – not the 15% stipulated by government. He claimed a barn had also been separated from the property.

Dr Hockley stormed: “For Little New Park, Forestry England is demanding income statements from anyone interested, to check they can afford £18,000 a year in rent alone and to deter those commoners who cannot.

“Tenant selection is, therefore, just a trap that the court would be wise to avoid. This is simply a diversion along the route to effective privatisation of the Crown freeholds; removing them from support for commoning.”

Alleging the actions of FE were in defiance of government policies putting the Forest before corporate financial interests, Dr Hockley continued: “I am very sorry to say we no longer have confidence in the Deputy Surveyor to put the Forest first in this regard.

“We have tried for three years to work with Forestry England – willing to discuss updating the Illingworth policies – but their ears are deaf to the voice of the Forest. They will push on regardless of all due process.”

In a statement, FE said that of the 65 Crown properties in the New Forest, 49 are occupied by current or retired staff such as keepers, crafts people, rangers and foresters while five are let out on open market rates, it stated, which includes two large six-bedroom lodges.

A spokesperson confirmed there had been eight viewings at Little New Park – a detached house with paddock and stables. She claimed the £1,450 rental was well below market value.

Bruce Rothnie, the FE’s deputy surveyor for the New Forest, said: “I support the need for affordable housing in the New Forest and stay committed to maintaining our housing stock, that offers different opportunities for rent by our own staff and practising commoners.

“How we approach housing in the New Forest remains the same. We prioritise our housing for our staff and continue to offer discounted residential rents to commoners in the New Forest.

“Our local team plays a vital role in the life of the New Forest, and over the past 25 years the Forestry Commission has supported commoning by the way we manage the Forest and our properties.

“This includes substantial public subsidy to keep the benefits to commoning and maintaining the traditions of the New Forest. We have to balance this with the need for financial sustainability to manage the local houses and the cost to the taxpayer of caring for the New Forest.

“The Illingworth report, which the CDA refers to, is now more than 25 years old and will need to be reviewed. This could include consultation with interested parties in the New Forest and presenting the findings, with any suggested changes in our approach, to ministers for approval.”