NEW Forest District Council is being urged to collaborate with the Commoners' Defence Association to ensure people with commoning rights have homes to live in.

The recommendation is contained in Hyde's Parish Village Design Statement, recently endorsed by district council planning and transportation portfolio holder Cllr Chris Treleaven.

As well as calling for collaboration between the Commoners' Defence Association and the district council as the housing enabler, the design statement calls for any affordable housing to be built sympathetically and that no development "will have more than five houses on one site". It also calls for commoners who live in temporary accommodation to be able to continue there long-term to enable them to carry out their commoning activities.

And it points out: "The continuation of commoning is vital to the maintenance of the landscape. The National Park Authority, the district council and Hampshire County Council are encouraged to do everything in their power to ensure that it is maintained at least at its current level."

Owners are encouraged to have all driveways and parking areas surfaced with hoggin and gravel to maintain the local character and reduce the risk of flooding.

In addition, all signs should fit in with the rural environment, urbanisation should be avoided, grass verges maintained and pavements should not be laid.

District council chairman and parish council vice-chairman Cllr Bill Dow said commoning was "vital to the management of the forest as a whole.

"I feel we are like stewards. We have to look after the area for future generations to enjoy. We mustn't destroy what we've got," he said.