Important Announcement
It is with great regret that the Parish Council have to acknowledge that the efforts of so many of the community to achieve a Neighbourhood Plan – a process that started in 2012 – has come to an end. This has been bought about by interminable delays. the passage of time, so many submissions having to be amended, Government changes to present planning legislation and now future proposed Law changes.
We have completed the new Bethersden Housing Needs Survey which can be reused as a reference of our future needs under the ABC local plan.
Both councils have come to the conclusion it would be impossible to continue. ABC stated that the best way forward for BPC to obtain more local needs housing, is through a strengthening of the ABC local plan approach which will negate the need for parishes to undertake the complex and the expense both in financial and volunteer labour requirements, of a Neighbourhood planning process.
Bethersden Neighbourhood Plan, CONSULTATION MAY 2019
Ashford Borough Council has received proposed modifications to the draft Bethersden Neighbourhood Development Plan 2015 – 2030. Ashford Borough Council is now seeking the local communities’ views on these proposals.
To take part in the consultation visit www.ashford.gov.uk/consultations www.ashford.gov.uk/consultations where you can find out further details and information on how to express your views.
For further information please see the documents below.
Consultation Letter May 2019-1
BethersdenNP Consultation Statement Feb 2019
BethersdenNP SEA February 2019
BethersdenNP basic condition statement
Independent Examiner Report on the Neighbourhood Plan – May 2018
To access the correspondence from the Independent Examiner please click here.
Neighbourhood Plan Consultation 2018
Deadline for comments closed 9th February 2018. To read the comments recieved please click on the document below:
Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Comments (combined)
Visit our Neighbourhood Plan Facebook page to find up to date information on progress with the Plan.
A Neighbourhood Plan is a community-led document for guiding the future development, regeneration and conservation of an area. A neighbourhood plan is about the use and development of land and may contain a vision, aims, planning policies, proposals for improving the area or providing new facilities, or allocation of key sites for specific kinds of development. It may deal with a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues (such as housing, employment, heritage and transport).
Why do a Plan?
The Neighbourhood Plan will be part of the statutory Ashford Borough Council Local Plan from 2015 to 2030. This statutory status gives Neighbourhood Plans far more weight than some other local documents, such as community plans, and even the existing Bethersden Parish Plan and Village Design Statement.