The Cabinet agrees a rate of £600 for houses built near the New Forest

Wiltshire Council’s cabinet has approved a revised New Forest mitigation strategy which will introduce a £600 charge on new developments around the area.

The levy will be applied to every new home within 13.8km of New Forest conservation sites to ease pressures from new residential and tourist developments.

This area was calculated from surveys which found that 75% of New Forest visitors come from residences within 13.79 km of the National Park.

The 13.8 km zone includes Salisbury. (Image: Natural England)

By paying the rate, developers will contribute to mitigation measures throughout the New Forest, such as improving paths and infrastructure.

At a meeting at Trowbridge County Hall on Tuesday 7 May, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet approved plans to replace the current interim approach with this new strategy.

Council leader Richard Clewer described the herbivores roaming the New Forest as having an “incredibly beneficial” impact on the site’s ecology, creating a “unique environment” that attracts people, putting “significant pressure” on the area.

The New Forest protected sites comprise the New Forest Special Protection Area (SPA), the New Forest Special Area of ​​Conservation (SAC) and the New Forest Ramsar.

These international statutory wildlife designations are legally protected, meaning that Wiltshire Council must provide an appropriate strategy to mitigate the negative consequences of nearby development.