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New Forest, in numbers
New Forest local authority area. Every figure carries its own date.
Strengths to build on. Pressures to address. Choices to make.
These assessments connect evidence with proposed responses. They are not ratings of council performance.
strength
The council has named projects in Totton, Ringwood and Milford, alongside a wider walking programme.
The New Forest district needs several local plans rather than one story about the National Park.
What could help →strength
Average private rent is £1,244 a month (August 2026) in New Forest council area. This is £215 lower than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.7% in Sway to 22% in Ringwood South — a gap of 13.3 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
What could help →strength
4.8% of people reported bad or very bad health in New Forest council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.8% in Forest & Solent to 6.6% in Milton — a gap of 3.8 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
What could help →weakness
The Totton programme includes a Brokenford Lane connection; the wider programme identifies other access gaps.
A short missing link can make a whole journey difficult or unsafe.
What could help →opportunity
The walking and green-space programme is intended to reduce pressure on protected places.
Nearby alternatives can serve residents and nature if they are attractive and accessible.
What could help →opportunity
29.4% of people in New Forest council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 18.2% in Marchwood & Eling to 50.4% in Barton & Becton — a gap of 32.2 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
What could help →opportunity
31.2% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in New Forest council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 10.6% in Brockenhurst & Denny Lodge to 20.4% in Milton — a gap of 9.8 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
What could help →opportunity
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in New Forest council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
What could help →opportunity
4 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
What could help →opportunity
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 8.9% in Brockenhurst & Denny Lodge to 19.8% in Milton — a gap of 10.9 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
What could help →threat
Milford’s concept report identifies ageing defences and public facilities.
Investment needs to remain useful as coastal conditions and protection work change.
What could help →| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
|---|---|---|
| Work with towns on their different local placesCouncil programme and project documents. | New Forest District Council with town and parish councils | |
| Close the gaps in everyday walking routesNamed access schemes, with current completed routes not yet verified. | New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council | |
| Offer local outdoor space while protecting sensitive habitatsSelected programme sites, not a claim of completed habitat benefits. | New Forest District Council, land managers and National Park partners | |
| Fit seafront improvements to coastal riskSeptember 2025 report; current engineering position needs a fresh update. | New Forest District Council and coastal risk-management partners | |
| Make room for homes people can affordAverage private rent is £1,244 a month (August 2026) in New Forest council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.7% in Sway to 22% in Ringwood South — a gap of 13.3 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 26 of 26 current wards have comparable figures. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Plan homes and care around an older population29.4% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 18.2% in Marchwood & Eling to 50.4% in Barton & Becton — a gap of 32.2 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 26 of 26 current wards have comparable figures. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Bring support closer to people in poor health4.8% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.8% in Forest & Solent to 6.6% in Milton — a gap of 3.8 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 26 of 26 current wards have comparable figures. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Connect local skills to local opportunities31.2% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 10.6% in Brockenhurst & Denny Lodge to 20.4% in Milton — a gap of 9.8 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 26 of 26 current wards have comparable figures. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | |
| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Target support where disadvantages overlapHouseholds facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 8.9% in Brockenhurst & Denny Lodge to 19.8% in Milton — a gap of 10.9 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 26 of 26 wards. | The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services |