THE future of housing developments in the New Forest has been delayed due to a need to carry out further ecological investigations.

New Forest District Council’s Local Plan Review 2016-2036 was due to be reported to cabinet and full council in September, but this will now take place later in the year.

The council still aims to publish a submission version of the Local Plan before the end of 2017.

The delay has been caused after forecast traffic growth from Local Plan development proposals, alongside development outside the district, reached a threshold where more environmental investigations were needed.

On the need to explore the issue further, a statement on New Forest District Council’s website says: “This (investigation) is to establish whether or not the potential effects of increased traffic emissions on internationally protected nature conservation sites in the New Forest would be significant, and if the effects were significant, whether and how they could be mitigated.”

The council are meeting with Natural England to agree next steps and revised timetable.