New Forest District Council approves Community Infrastructure Levy funding totalling £830,000 for various projects

AROUND £830,000 in developers' contributions will be spent on projects across the New Forest.

Approval was given by the district council's cabinet member for planning, Cllr Diane Andrews, for 11 projects to be funded from Community Infrastructure Levy funding.

Initiatives include improved access at Woodside Gardens in Lymington, for which £165,000 will allocated, and the promotion and enhancement of walking routes in the town, earmarked for £104,000.

Listed for New Milton was the installation of a new circular route at Ashington Park, for which £52,000 has been set aside.

In Totton, £183,000 will be spent on extending Bartley Park to provide additional green space and upgrading its paths to attract dog walkers.

A further £53,000 will go towards improvements to Testwood Recreation Ground in the town.

New Milton will also see improved public access and resurfacing at Carrick Way Woodland, at a cost of £130,000.

A report to Cllr Andrews stated that each year a range of projects from an approved list are delivered using developers' contributions.

"It was agreed that to comply with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the first call on any CIL funds will be projects to mitigate the recreational impacts of new residential development on the New Forest and Southampton Water," the report said.

It is anticipated the schemes will commence within the next two years.