New Forest National Park Association refuses to back Solent Freeport investment zone bid

NATIONAL park authority members have refused to back a bid by Solent Freeport to make the area an investment zone, citing government confusion and fears that liberalised planning rules will be “incompatible” with protecting the New Forest.

They voted unanimously to send a letter to the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, now Michael Gove, expressing their concerns over early plans to create an investment zone that could encroach on the national park.

The government’s contro-versial investment zones proposal aims to allow the faster construction of industrial, commercial or housing areas by removing “burdensome” regulations.

Ministers claim the new zones would enjoy tax breaks and “regulatory innovations” and would benefit from “liberalised” planning rules that could lead to a “substantial” contribution to the UK’s economy.

But wildlife pressure groups such as the RSPB and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have criticised the proposals as an excuse to tear up the planning rulebook to allow development regardless of whether the land is protected by environmental laws.

NPA officer David Stone told a meeting of the authority last week that the New Forest was one of three national parks seeking clarification from the government.

He said expressions of interest had been invited from organisations like Solent Freeport to create investment zones, which are designed to benefit from “accelerated growth” by taking a “streamlined” approach to planning consent.

He added: “It’s fair to say there’s a lack of clarity over the guidance we’ve received, with the wording pulling in different directions, and only 12 days for the freeport to submit an expression of interest.”

Mr Stone said the NPA should take a “cautious” approach regarding the status of the national park.

NPA member David Harrison said: “We’ve got windows that are open, then shut – it all sounds rather unhinged to me.

“There’s a lot of mixed messaging and I think any reasonable person would be concerned about what’s going on here.

“I think the authority is being bullied and we should dig our heels in.”

Caroline Rackham said: “The devil is in the detail” and that investment zones could have a “massive impact” on the Forest.

Zoe Clewer said: “We don’t want to set a precedent that New Forest land can be included in these plans.

“We have to tread carefully – concerns over transport, housing and air quality have not come up, and these are the elements of deregulation that concern me.”

Members voted unanimously to endorse the position that investment zone programmes “must be consistent with the protection afforded to national parks in primary legislation”.

They also voted in favour of NPA chair Gavin Parker sending a letter to the secretary of state asking for clarification over what an investment zone in the Solent Freeport area would mean for adjoining national park land.

The letter said: “We would encourage the government to explore the feasibility of excluding land within the New Forest National Park from the consideration of the Solent Freeport’s recent investment zone expression of interest bid.”