New Forest District

New Forest is a local government district in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Lyndhurst. The district covers most of the New Forest National Park, from which it takes its name.

New Forest
New Forest District
Non-metropolitan district
Motto: 
"Old yet ever new"
New Forest shown within Hampshire
New Forest shown within Hampshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth East England
Non-metropolitan countyHampshire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQLyndhurst
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyNew Forest District Council
 • LeadershipLeader and Cabinet (Conservative)
 • MPsJulian Lewis
Desmond Swayne
Area
 • Total290.8 sq mi (753.2 km2)
 • Rank43rd (of 296)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total176,262
 • Rank118th (of 296)
 • Density610/sq mi (230/km2)
 • Ethnicity
94.9% White British
2.67% White Other
0.94% Asian
0.35% Black
1.14% Other
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code24UJ (ONS)
E07000091 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSU2581608959
Websitewww.newforest.gov.uk

The district was created on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by the merger of the municipal borough of Lymington with New Forest Rural District and part of Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District.

With its population estimated at 179,753 in mid-2018, New Forest is one of the most populated districts in England not to be a unitary authority. It was recommended by the Banham Commission to become one in 1995, but this was vetoed by the government of the day.

Politics
Main article: New Forest District Council elections

Elections to the council are held every four years, with all of the 60 seats on the council being elected at each election. From the 1999 election, the Conservatives have had a majority on the council, following a period of No overall control between 1991 and 1995, then Liberal Democrat control from 1995 to 1999.

For the 2023 local elections, new ward boundaries were introduced and the total number of councillors was reduced from 60 to 48.[1] The makeup of the council after the 2023 elections is as follows:-

Party Councillors
Conservative Party 26
Liberal Democrats 14
Independent 4
Green 3
Labour and Co-operative 1

Parishes and settlements

Premises
Appletree Court, Lyndhurst: Council's headquarters.

The council is based at Appletree Court on Beaulieu Road in Lyndhurst. The oldest part of the building was originally a large house, which was purchased in 1954 to become the offices of the New Forest Rural District Council. The building has been substantially extended since becoming council offices.[2][3]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Forest.

References
  1. "Local elections 2023: Tories keep control of New Forest District Council but lose BCP Council". Lymington Times. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  2. "Will new R.D.C. offices cost £50,000?". New Milton Advertiser. 2 October 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 21 July 2022. The R.D.C. bought Appletree Court during the early part of this year for offices and a Council chamber, at a cost of £12,000.
  3. "Information offices". New Forest District Council. Retrieved 21 July 2022. Lyndhurst (main office): Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA

50.879°N 1.633°W / 50.879; -1.633

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