Relevant to parts of the parish falling within the National Park boundary

As parishioners of Netley Marsh, we are so fortunate to live our daily lives in such a pleasant part of the country, with the New Forest on our doorstep.

This unique landscape is a living working remnant of medieval England, with a sense of community, tradition, and history, which has been generally protected by National Park status since 2005.

In addition, where there are areas of special historic and architectural interest, the National Park Authority has the opportunity to designate these as conservation areas within the National Park.

The first conservation areas designated within this parish were established in 2008 and the Parish Council has recently been engaged with officers from the National Park Authority in carrying out a review to ensure these are still relevant and appropriate for today.

To qualify for inclusion in a conservation area we are looking for distinctive character made up of topography, historic development, current uses and features, buildings, paths and lanes, hedges, trees, signage and place names, worthy of affording additional protection by designation as a conservation area.

The review involves revisiting the current designated conservation areas to check what might have changed, taking photographs of current features, defining views, distinctive buildings and listing of other conservation assets.

We are also considering whether current boundaries to conservation areas need review, or whether there are today new areas within the parish which should be considered for designation as a new conservation area.

We are looking at listed buildings and others which might be worthy of ‘local listed’ status.

Our observations are being scrutinised by conservation officers, who will make recommendations to the National Park Authority.

Any proposed changes to boundaries, or introduction of new conservation areas, would be subject to a process of consultation before any changes are implemented.

With development pressures ever present, it is important that we try to ensure the unique landscape of the New Forest is preserved for future generations and that, wherever possible, necessary development is sympathetic to the very special and distinctive character of the Parish.  

Tim Cook
Vice Chairman

Further details on all New Forest National Park Authority Conservation areas, including maps and the last character appraisal can be found by following List of conservation areas –