Update on minerals and waste plan in South Downs

The Planning Inspector has now published their Final Report on the Update to the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan.

The Hampshire Authorities – comprising Hampshire County Council, New Forest National Park Authority, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council, and the South Downs National Park Authority – have prepared an Update to the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan to guide minerals and waste decision-making in Hampshire up to 2040.

The Hampshire Authorities submitted the Plan for independent examination in July 2024.

Examination hearings took place in February 2025 with an additional hearing in September 2025 regarding the Purple Haze proposed site allocation, near Ringwood.

Following these hearings, Proposed Main Modifications to the submitted Plan were published and consulted on between 4 December 2025 and 12 February 2026. All consultation responses were provided to the Planning Inspector for consideration and to allow the production of their Final Report.

The Inspector’s Final Report was published on 8 May 2026 and this concludes the examination. The Inspector, L Fleming BSc (Hons) MRTPI, has outlined their findings and concluded that, alongside the recommended Main Modifications set out in the Appendix to their Final Report, the Plan is sound, legally compliant, and capable of adoption.

The Inspector’s Final Report is available to view on Hampshire County Council’s website here and can also be viewed at the Hampshire Authorities’ offices, including the South Downs Centre in Midhurst.

The South Downs National Park Authority will consider the Inspector’s Final Report, and whether to adopt the Plan, at its full authority meeting on 7 July 2026.

Subject to forthcoming meetings of the other Hampshire Authorities, it is anticipated that the Plan will be adopted across Hampshire on 23 July 2026.