NFDC Refuses Planning Application on SS6
On Wednesday 9th April 2025, the New Forest District Council (NFDC) voted to refuse permission to develop 82 units on the larger part of SS6. They criticised the density, the lack of safe access and shared concerns from Oakhaven Hospice about failure to safeguard their safety and tranquility. They also did not believe in the ability of the applicant to deliver the promised affordable housing.
This is the result of the unwavering support, over several years, of our membership - we thank you all for your letters, phone calls and emails and donations which have helped to clarify and evidence the issues this site raises in terms of the Lanes.
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We also thank our local councillors Jack Davies and Jacquie England who both spoke at the meeting this morning, but also all the councillors on the NFDC Planning Committee who supported the move to reject this application.
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This is not the end of the story. The National Park will be considering this same application next Tuesday (15th April) and we will be urging them to refuse on the grounds that this is unnecessary development in the National Park.
Whether it’s a Boxing Day amble or a regular running route, you may have fond memories of using the quiet and tranquil lanes which run through the southern parts of Lymington and Pennington.
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Mature oaks and natural grass verges create green tunnels. Birds populate the hedgerows and cow parsley runs rampantly through many of the wild verges. The Lanes are a special area – acknowledged as a unique part of Lymington in New Forest District Council’s Lymington ‘Local Distinctiveness Report’.
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Significant building plans are submitted right now for a large housing estate (112 units) which will be built on fields between Lower Pennington Lane and Ridgeway lane.
No-one can deny that there is a huge demand for housing in our area, particularly affordable housing; however, we are a Lanes focused organisation. Our opposition to this development is not anti-housing of any type, affordable or otherwise. We exist to protect the lanes as part of our local heritage.
PALLS has a membership base of almost 800 members and the vast majority of our members do not live on the Lanes – there are fewer than 30 houses that adjoin the application site. This is NOT nimbyism.
What we all share is the knowledge that this development will destroy the lanes and result in an unsafe environment for EVERYONE WHO USES THEM - existing and future residents, whatever tenure of housing they live in, walkers, cyclists, horse riders and motorists alike.
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Reports show that the lanes will become unsafe for all. Traffic flows and vehicle speeds will increase. Not such a pleasant or safe location for a family stroll, take the pushchair up to preschool or use your mobility scooter to go to the shops.
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PALLS represents almost 800 people who think this is wrong. Please object now to this unsafe and damaging development.
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What can you do to Save The Lanes? Join PALLS and put in BOTH of your objections. Links to both are below.
Our key OBJECTIONS
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Whilst mindful of the need for local housing, we believe this development proposed by NFDC and the site promoters will seriously damage the tranquillity and natural environment of Woodside, Lower Pennington and the surrounding Lanes.
The recreational and environmental value of the Lanes is cherished by the whole of Pennington and Lymington, and beyond. We cannot afford to lose them.
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Read on to view some of our reasons to object.
NO...to Urbanisation of the Lanes
Increasing traffic flows along the lanes will make them less safe for all users. The site promoters, Cicero, show no safe pedestrian or cycle access to local schools and shops. Moreover, they show no way to provide them without destroying the soft verges and mature trees that line the Lanes and urbanising them with lighting and tarmac.
Cicero. the site promoter, cannot deliver a safe, sustainable development.
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NO...to the new Southern Rat Run
A vehicular link road between Lower Pennington Lane and Ridgeway Lane is totally unnecessary and unjustified. It requires development within the National Park, which is contrary to its guiding principles; will encourage car use, contrary to Government policy; and create rat-running through the network of lanes including Poles Lane, Woodside Lane and Viney Road.
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We have repeatedly asked why a through-route is needed and we have never received an answer which is justified under standard planning requirements.
Which just makes you wonder why it is being built..and who really stands to gain from it.
NO...to the straightening and widening of Ridgeway Lane
Cicero and the landowners want to realign Ridgeway Lane. This would increase traffic speeds in Ridgeway Lane close to Woodside Park, extend further into the National Park and destroy the character of this lane. Our rural lanes are ancient droving routes and their curves, hedgerows and verges are very much part of our local history.
There are plans to build two passing places on Ridgeway Lane - these will be edged with concrete curbs and will culvert ditches and destroy trees. This is effectively widening the lane.
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We can't show you what the developers would like to do to Ridgeway Lane and Poles Lane because they will not allow us to use their maps. But this is how the junction looks now.
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NO...to Development in the New Forest National Park
Cicero have massively increased the amount of land they now want to take from the National Park to incorporate within their development site. 1 hectare of land is now proposed to be used to provide two access roads and excavate a large drainage lake. This would set a huge precedent for major development within a National Park which is nationally protected because of the natural beauty of its landscape.
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We can't show you a map here because the Site Promoters, Cicero, won't let us use their map used in the planning application. But this is a nice reminder of how things used to look on SS6.
