M&G Developments: New Forest Resident Survey
Background & Context
M·E·L Research was commissioned to undertake a survey of residents living within a tightly defined geographic area surrounding Denham’s Corner. The research was commissioned to inform decision-making around proposed local infrastructure changes that had the potential to affect residents’ access to and use of the surrounding environment.
Given the small size of the affected community, it was essential that the research captured the views and behaviours of local residents who would be directly impacted by any future changes. The client required robust evidence on how residents currently used nearby greenspaces, particularly the heathland and woodland areas of the New Forest, as well as the potential implications of infrastructure and access-related changes.
A key challenge was achieving a robust sample within a very small and tightly defined study area. The project required an efficient fieldwork approach capable of reaching a high proportion of eligible residents while ensuring the evidence reflected the views of those most directly affected by the proposals.
Approach
M·E·L Research designed and delivered a structured resident survey focused on recreational behaviour, travel patterns and use of the New Forest and other greenspaces.
Resident Survey
- Face-to-face survey conducted with residents living within a tightly defined geographic area surrounding Denham’s Corner.
- A total of 114 completed interviews were achieved.
- Fieldwork was delivered across five separate fieldwork shifts, enabling coverage of different times and maximising opportunities to engage residents.
- The approach focused exclusively on residents within the affected area, ensuring the findings reflected the views of the population most likely to experience the impacts of the proposed infrastructure changes.
Questionnaire Design
M·E·L Research developed a structured questionnaire to gather detailed evidence on:
- Frequency of greenspace use.
- Frequency of visits to New Forest heathland and woodland locations.
- Main and secondary recreational activities undertaken.
- Dog ownership and dog walking behaviours.
- Locations used within the New Forest.
- Use of heathland, woodland or mixed habitats.
- Travel methods used to access recreation sites.
- Distances travelled from parking locations or transport hubs.
- Use of alternative greenspaces outside the New Forest.
- Potential behavioural responses to changes affecting access and parking provision.
The questionnaire incorporated routing to ensure respondents were only asked questions relevant to their circumstances. Residents who had visited the New Forest within the previous 12 months completed a detailed section exploring visitor behaviour and site use. Residents who did not currently visit the New Forest were asked about alternative recreational destinations and barriers to visiting.
Behavioural Impact Assessment
A key element of the survey was understanding how residents might alter their behaviour in response to changes affecting access and infrastructure.
Questions explored:
- The relative importance of the New Forest compared with other recreational destinations.
- Alternative sites used for recreation.
- Whether residents anticipated changing the frequency of their visits in response to parking and access-related changes.
- The extent to which recreation demand might shift to other locations.
This provided the client with evidence not only on current behaviour but also on potential future behavioural responses.
Outputs
M·E·L Research delivered a dataset combining both quantitative and qualitative evidence.
Quantitative data captured:
- Levels of greenspace use.
- Visit frequency.
- Activity participation.
- Travel behaviours.
- Mode of transport.
- Use of different habitat types.
- Potential behavioural responses to infrastructure changes.
Qualitative evidence was collected through open-ended questions, enabling residents to identify specific locations they visited, alternative recreational destinations and reasons for not using particular sites.
The resulting evidence provided the client with a detailed understanding of how residents within the affected area interacted with the New Forest and surrounding greenspaces. Findings were used to inform consideration of local infrastructure proposals and to assess the potential implications of changes for the local community.
By securing 114 completed interviews within a highly defined study area, the project generated a robust evidence base reflecting the views and behaviours of residents most directly affected by the proposed changes.
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