B8 Estates Plan

B8-1

B8 ESTATES

.

1. INTRODUCTION

Our Estates team has a large remit covering the management and maintenance ofthe Forestry Commission Crown Freehold and Leasehold estate property includingthe:

♦ Upkeep and maintenance of all operational buildings including The Queen’sHouse, Depots, Deer Larders and sheds

♦ Leasing and maintenance of Forestry Commission farms, cottages and houses(over 60 properties in total)

♦ Leasing of back-up grazing land♦ Upkeep of tracks and verges located outside the Perambulation1

♦ Managing over 2500 access licences to private properties and accessrequirements for the network of utility corridors and wayleaves across CrownLands

♦ Permissions & access for County Council highway maintenance along unfencedroads

♦ Management of leases for campsites, sports pitches and golf courses♦ Management and liaison with landlords regarding Forestry Commission leasehold

land.♦ Administration of compensation payments in respect of Verderers Inclosures and

other activities relating to New Forest Acts.♦ Trespass and Byelaw prosecution

The Estate Office also covers the Commissions’ landholding in Dorset.

Maps B8.1 to B8.4 show the extent of the Crown Lands Estate holding andresponsibilities.

1 As a result of the 1964 New Forest Act a number of tracks and verges running to Southampton Waterwere excluded from the New Forest Perambulation (area open to grazing)

Using the assets of the public estate tohelp sustain traditional land uses andsupport local leisure activities.

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2. MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

As a government organisation, a large part of how the Forestry Commission canmanage its land and property is dictated by statute. On the Crown Lands, Estatesmanagement is largely governed by:

♦ The New Forest Acts 1877, 1949, 1964, 1970♦ Forestry Act, 1967 (as amended)♦ Agriculture (Miscellaneous provisions) Act♦ Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW)♦ Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)♦ Forestry Commission Byelaws

In addition other documents have had a significant bearing on policy direction suchas the Illingworth Report (1991) and its recommendations on how to support andsustain commoning.

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3. OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, ISSUES & ACTIONS

Estates Management Objectives

1. To maintain a core housing stock for essential Forestry CommissionStaff.

2. To support the commoning community through the provision of rentedaccommodation and provision of back-up grazing land to practisingcommoners at discounted rents.

3. To ensure that utility companies adopt a sensitive and responsibleapproach when carrying out work on Crown Lands and that applicationsfor inappropriate development are resisted.

4. To ensure that local communities continue to enjoy sporting activitieson the network of sports pitches and golf courses on Crown Lands andthat those facilities are managed with due regard to the environmentalsensitivities prevailing on the site.

5. To increase the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability ofcore buildings.

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3.1 Issues and Proposed Policies & Actions to meet managementobjectives for Estates

Issue 1 Maintenance of Housing Stock

With high property prices prevailing in the New Forest, the availability of affordablehousing is a major issue for both Forestry Commission staff and commoners alikewho are required to live in the Forest to carry out their jobs and maintain theirlivelihoods. The Forestry Commission has a number of tenanted properties locatedacross the Crown Lands. Priority is given to essential forestry workers who arerequired to live in the Forest to carry out their functions. Any remaining suitableproperties are let at discounted rates to other Forestry Commission staff andCommoners2 at discounted rates. In rare circumstances property that is not suitablefor letting to Forestry Commission staff or commoners may be let at commercialmarket rates to help offset the discounted rents.

There is also the requirement to maintain properties. Many of the properties areageing and in need of on-going investment to bring facilities and infrastructure up tomodern day standards and improve energy efficiency.

Key Actions

i. Core housing stock to be maintained for essential Forestry Commissionstaff.

ii. Additional stock to be let at discounted rents to practising commoners.

iii. Explore opportunities to build additional houses on Crown Lands torent to commoners

iv. Where properties are not linked to the main sewer, carry out programmeto ensure that cesspits/septic tanks meet current day standards.

v. Rolling programme to upgrade heating systems, kitchens, bathroomsand insulation to modern standards.

vi. Explore additional opportunities to improve the environmentalsustainability of the housing stock.

2 The Illingworth Report (1991) recommended that with regard to Forestry Commission Houses “When a vacanthouse is not required for a Commission employee it should be let to a tenant who will, as an express condition tolet, turn-out ponies and/or cattle onto the Forest.

B8-1: We will maintain Forestry Commission housing stock to modernstandards to provide accommodation for essential Forestry Commission Staff.Any additional properties will be let at discounted rates to Commoners.

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Issue 2 Accessibility of Core Buildings

The Disability Discrimination Act1995 (Part III) requires all‘service providers’, includingowners and tenants of listedbuildings open to the public andemployers with more than 15employees to provideinformation and assistance fordisabled persons. From 1st

October, 2004 it has been anadditional requirement to carryout ‘reasonable adjustments’ tophysical features of buildings toenable disabled access.

Key Actions

i. Improve disabled access within The Queen’s House taking into accountconstraints imposed by Listed Building status.

Issue 3 Leasing of back-up grazing land

The Forestry Commission manages 251 hectares of enclosed freehold land in theNew Forest which is made up of short term Farm Business Tenancies (generally 4years) and agricultural leases. The Illingworth Report (1991) recommended thatagricultural land managed by the Forestry Commission should be made available tocommoners as back-up land for animals turned out on the Forest. As far as possiblethe Forestry Commission is implementing these recommendations.

Actions

i. Continue to lease back-up grazing land to commoners.

B8-2: We will provide disabled access to core buildings.

B8-3: We will lease spare grazing land to Commoners with the aim ofproviding affordable back-up grazing

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Issue 4 Management of Utility/Infrastructure Corridors

A number of utility and infrastructure corridors and wayleaves run across the CrownLands including gas, oil, water pipelines and electricity cables (Map B8.4). Theseinclude both major water and gas pipelines/powerlines/telephone cable routes andsmall utility wayleaves to individual properties. Agreement is required from theForestry Commission, Verderers and Natural England before a wayleave can begranted. Sensitive management is required both during the route planning,installation and maintenance of utilities infrastructure and a number of restrictionsapply which might not be required elsewhere, for example methods for groundreinstatement. Visual impact is also important and initiatives are currently underwayto re-route overhead electricity cables underground.

Maintenance agreements for unfenced roads also falls under the management of FCEstates.

Key actions

i. Negotiation of access permissions

ii. Support and encourage the underground re-routing of overhead lines.

iii. Prepare specifications for utility companies to take account ofenvironmental sensitivities.

Issue 5 Management of Access Licences to Private Properties

The Estates Department manage over 2500 access licences and renewals grantingthe right to access private properties over the Crown Lands. Permission is requiredfrom the Forestry Commission, Verderers and Natural England before a wayleavecan be granted.

Key Actions

i. Negotiation of access permission

ii. Temporary use of land adjacent to building sites will be subject to consentthrough the permissions system and monitored by the Beat Keepers.

B8-4: We will manage utility and infrastructure corridors in the interests ofmaintaining, protecting and where possible enhancing the special qualities ofthe Forest.

B8-5: We will manage existing access licences to private properties in theinterests of maintaining, protecting and where possible enhancing the specialqualities of the Forest. New licences will be subject to rigorous scrutiny toensure that they are required and that the most appropriate route is adopted.

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Issue 6 Transmitter/Mobile Phone Masts on Crown Lands/Inappropriatedevelopment

The Forestry Commission has in the past received numerous requests for telecommasts. They have all been refused. Only two phone masts are located on the CrownLands at the current time. These have been in place for a number of years and arejointly used by the Emergency Services. Any other phone masts around the Forestare situated on private land. We are also acutely aware of the environmentalsensitivities prevailing in the Forest and together with other statutory bodies will resistapplications for other types of inappropriate development.

Key Actions

i. Continue to resist applications for siting of transmitter masts/mobile phonemasts on Crown Lands.

ii. Resist applications for other inappropriate developments that couldthreaten the integrity of the Crown Lands such as major pipelines, oil/gasdrilling and other such infrastructure.

Issue 7 Management of Sports Pitches & Amenity Facilities

The Forestry Commission owns a number of sports pitches and golf courses acrossthe Crown Lands (Map B8.3) which provide an important resource for localcommunities and tourists alike. Many of these pitches form part of the New Forest

B8-6: Under powers conferred by the New Forest Acts we will only provideconsent for development opportunities that are in keeping with the specialqualities of the New Forest.

B8-7: We will continue to maintain our network of sports pitches, golf coursesand allotments on the Crown Lands.

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SSSI and SPA and are open to grazing. Therefore it is important that they aremanaged appropriately both to take account of conservation needs and the safety oflivestock as well as the legitimate sporting desires of the public. The majority of sitesare operated under management agreements. It is important that these agreementsincorporate methods or actions that need to be implemented to ensure conservationand livestock safety needs are met.

Key Actions

i. Draw up plans in conjunction with Natural England, Verderers and NPA toensure that sports pitches are managed in a way that avoids adverseimpact on the New Forest environment.

Issue 8 Environmental Sustainability of core buildings & transport

In light of climate change and the need to conserve energy and improveenvironmental performance, the Forestry Commission, nationally, in 2006 launchedthe Greenerways Initiative. The aim of this scheme is ‘to prepare, promote andinstigate a Sustainability Development Action Plan for the Forestry Commissionwhich reflects Government Policy and also captures the hearts, minds andcommitment of all its staff’. Locally we have appointed a “Greenerways Champion”to help forward and implement initiatives around the New Forest Estate holding toimprove our environmental sustainability.

The FC’s Environmental Performance is monitored by the Sustainable DevelopmentCommission (SDC) and FC are working towards the targets set for the GovernmentEstate.

B8-8: We will take action to improve the environmental sustainability of corebuildings

PRIORITY AREA TARGETS FOR THE GOVERNMENT ESTATE

CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY

CARBON EMISSIONS FROM OFFICES

♦ Reverse the current upward trend in carbon emissions by April 2007.

♦ Reduce carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010-11, relative to 1999/2000 levels.

♦ Reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2020, relative to 1999/2000 levels.

CARBON EMISSIONS FROM ROAD VEHICLES♦ Reduce carbon emissions from road vehicles used for Government administrative operations by

15% by 2010/11, relative to 2005/2006 levels

CARBON NEUTRAL♦ Central Government’s office estate to be carbon neutral by 2012.

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Key Actions

i. Increase volume of recycling from The Queens House

ii. Explore ways to increase energy efficiency

iii. Minimise water use through implementation of water efficiency measures.

iv. Rationalise use of depots and removal of surplus buildings

v. Look at ways to reduce emissions from vehicles

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3.2 Summary

Table B8-1: Actions & Implementation

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Table B8-2: Monitoring Policies & Actions against National Park Purposes and SEForestry and Woodlands Framework

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_

A35

A36

M27

A326

A31

B3054

A338

B3055

A337

B3056

A336

B3078

B334

7

B3079

B305

8

B3080

A309

0

M271

B3055

A36

A338

A326

B3054

A337M27

±

Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Forestry Commission. 100025498 2008

July 2008

THE NEW FOREST CROWN LANDS MANAGEMENT PLAN

0 1 2 3 4 50.5 Kilometers

TheQueen'sHouse

Ringwood

Southampton

Map B 8.1FC operational properties

Lyndhurst

Crown land boundaryInclosures

Ashurst Depot

Lyndhurst Depot

BurleyDeer Larder

$+$+

$+

Southampton

Ringwood

Lyndhurst

Lymington

A35

A36

A31

M27

A326

B3054

A338

B3055

A337

B3056

B334

7

A336

B3078

B3079B3080

B305

8

M271

A309

0

A326

A36

A337M27

B3055

A338

±

0 1 2 3 4 50.5 Kilometers

THE NEW FOREST CROWN LANDS MANAGEMENT PLAN

Leasehold propertiesMap B 8.2

Crown land boundaryInclosuresLeasehold properties

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.Forestry Commission. 100025498 2008

July 2008

BramshawGolf Course

BurleyGolf Course

Southampton

Ringwood

Lyndhurst

Lymington

A35

A36

A31

M27

A326

B3054

A338

B3055

A337

B3056

A336

B3078

B3079B3080

B305

8

M271

A309

0

A326

A36

A337M27

B3055

A338

SwayRecreation

ground.

Ellingham SportsClub Pitches

LyndhurstFootball

Field

CadnamCricket Pitch

MinsteadCricket Club

BramshawCricket Pitch

BurleyCricket Pitch

GodshillCricket Pitch

BrockenhurstCricket Club

Coles MeadRecreation

Ground.

WoodgreenCricket Pitch

BartleyCricket Pitch

East BoldreFootball Pitch

NomanslandCricket Pitch

LyndhurstGolf Course

Swan GreenCricket Pitch

PikeshillAllotments

SwayAllotments

East BoldreAllotments

Black KnowlAllotments

±

0 1 2 3 4 50.5 Kilometers

THE NEW FOREST CROWN LANDS MANAGEMENT PLAN

Recreational leasesMap B 8.3

Crown land boundaryInclosuresSports groundsGolf coursesAllotments

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.Forestry Commission. 100025498 2008

July 2008

Southampton

Ringwood

Lyndhurst

Lymington

A36

A31

M27

A326

B3054

A338

B3055

A337

B3056

A336

B305

8

M271

A309

0

A326

A36

A337M27

B3055

A338

±

0 1 2 3 4 50.5 Kilometers

THE NEW FOREST CROWN LANDS MANAGEMENT PLAN

UtilitiesMap B 8.4

Crown land boundaryInclosuresElectricityGasTelephoneWater

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.Forestry Commission. 100025498 2008

July 2008