Guidelines for Filming in the New Forest

Guidelines for filming in the New Forest and the role of the Film:New Forest office

Film:New Forest is administered by New Forest District Council.

Film:New Forest will liaise with location providers to accommodate your location needs wherever possible and will do our best to assist you with your filming requirements.

However, New Forest District Council and Film:New Forest reserve the right to refuse collaboration on a filming project if it is not in the interest of the special qualities of the area, its economy or its residents and communities.

New Forest District Council and Film:New Forest may refuse collaboration on a filming project if insufficient notice to arrange permissions or locations has been provided by the production company and/or their sub-contractors.

New Forest District Council and Film:New Forest may also refuse collaboration on a filming project where a filming request requires a disproportionate amount of officer time compared to the economic benefit for the district.

Film:New Forest is unable to assist with location enquiries from students for filming project coursework or filming projects where there is no economic benefit for the district.

Click here for further information for students

The New Forest Code of Practice

This code of practice sets out the standards that Film:New Forest require production companies and/or their sub-contractors to follow whilst filming in New Forest District.

1. Production companies and/or their sub-contractors filming in the New Forest must adhere to relevant guidance in Creative UK’s Filming in England ‘Guidance Centre of Resources’. This includes:

  • Filming in England Code of Practice
  • Covid-19 Industry Advice and Resources
  • Guidance on Sustainable Production Practices
  • Drone Guidance (also see Aerial Footage of New Forest)
  • Filming Consent
  • Working with Child Performers
  • Filming in Public Spaces and on Pavements

2. It is recognised that most production companies act in a responsible and professional manner. However, all production companies and/or their sub-contractors must take their surroundings into consideration and productions must be sympathetic to the environment that is to be used and appropriate caution must be taken for filming in sensitive areas or at unsocial times. New Forest District Council, as the local authority, has a duty of care towards residents and businesses and will exercise control if a particular production is causing an unreasonable nuisance or noise.

3. The Production shall inform the appropriate police force and/or appropriate emergency service as well as Film:New Forest of all proposed filming on the street and/or in a public space as detailed in the Police and Emergency Services’ section of the Filming in England Code of Practice.

4. The staging of crimes and accidents, plus use of firearms (including prop and replica firearms) and special effects shall be agreed in advance of the shoot, with the relevant police service, the relevant emergency service and Film:New Forest as detailed in the Police and Emergency Services’ section of the Filming in England Code of Practice.

5. In addition, the Production shall inform the police service and/or appropriate emergency service when filming involves celebrities who may cause security or crowd control issues.

6. If the production requires a road closure or other permissions from the landowner or responsible authority, reasonable notice must be given to process your application.

For road closures:

COVID-19

Our top priority is the public health and safety needs of our community. When planning your filming project in the New Forest , you need to make sure it can take place safely, implementing the most current government guidelines.

Filming in England have developed comprehensive production guidance & advice here.

Comprehensive Covid-19 guidance for productions is also available from the British Film Commission.

filming guidelines for the new forest