Public consultation on district-wide parking strategy

New Forest residents are being invited to help shape a future parking strategy.

New Forest District Council  (NFDC) is holding a public consultation, starting on Tuesday 29 October 2024, on its new district-wide parking strategy which will consider its off-street car parks.  

Portfolio Holder for environment and sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, said: “The strategy aims to modernise our parking services, support environmental goals, and generate sustainable income to enhance council services and delivery. It will focus on integrating new technologies, such as electric vehicle charging, solar power generation and digital payment systems, as well as exploring opportunities for redeveloping underused parking areas to address local housing needs.

“We operate a large number of car parks all across the district and this initiative forms part of a wider effort, not only to modernise and improve the service, but to reduce carbon emissions and respond to the climate agenda.

"This consultation is a crucial opportunity for residents, businesses, and visitors to have their say on the future of parking in the New Forest. We are committed to creating a parking strategy that not only improves the user experience but also supports the council’s wider ambitions for sustainability and financial responsibility."

The consultation will be done in two phases, with the first phase of a survey running from Tuesday 29 October 2024.

The final parking strategy is set to be completed by May 2025.

Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to participate at https://www.newforest.gov.uk/parkingconsultation