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Thank you for signing up for our Neighbourhood Plan newsletter.
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We are a small group of volunteers working with the Parish Council on a Neighbourhood Plan for Boughton Aluph, Eastwell and Goat Lees. Neighbourhood Plans are a new way for local people to influence the planning and development of the area in which they live or work. Together, we will shape the future of our community.
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Since our last newsletter we have been busy carrying out assessments of potential development sites in our parish, so this newsletter will focus on new development including Ashford Borough Council's recently published changes to their Local Plan.
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Main Changes to Ashford's Local Plan 2030
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Ashford Borough Council has published its "Main Changes" to its Local Plan for the Borough to 2030 for public consultation. The changes respond to the earlier consultation and an increase by central government in the overall housing requirement to reflect new national population projections. The overall requirement for housing in Ashford Borough has increased from 14,680 to 16,120. The revised Local Plan shows how the Borough Council intend to meet this demand. Have your say on the "Main Changes".
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More housing at Eureka Park
One change in Ashford Borough Council's revised Local Plan which will impact on our parish is an increase in the number of new homes to be built at Eureka Park from 300 to 'in the region of 375 dwellings' to be accessed from Trinity Road plus '20 hectares of commercial development' . Read more or comment here.
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Other sites
Despite representations from some of the landowners and increased housing targets, none of the other 7 development sites put forward in our parish have been included in the revised Local Plan.
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Although not included in the Local Plan, we are required to appraise each of the sites for our Neighbourhood Plan to establish their suitability and whether they could meet the local housing needs identified by parish residents in our survey. Each site has been assessed on its own merits against sustainability criteria. Read more about how we assessed the sites on our website where you can also find our reports.
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Our emerging Neighbourhood Plan
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While consultation with local residents about the sites will continue, the Parish Council has taken an initial view on whether or not a site should be considered for land allocation in our Neighbourhood Plan. These decisions took full account of the views of residents on local housing need and how you think our community should change and grow.
Your overwhelming feedback to our survey was the importance of protecting and preserving our countryside and green spaces. The Parish Council has taken the decision that it will not support significant development on land within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or land which is designated a Landscape Character Area such as the Stour Gap or Boughton Lees Horticultural Valley. This means that the following sites will not be considered for land allocation in our emerging Neighbourhood Plan.
In addition, the Parish Council has determined that a greenfield site at Braehead, Sandyhurst Lane had limited potential to deliver homes to match the identified local housing need.
The Parish Council has yet to take a decision on the Former Sandpit, Sandyhurst Lane. If you have views on this or any of the sites listed above, post your comments on our website or send us an email.
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Decisions taken on development sites to date do not preclude a planning application being submitted to Ashford Borough Council. One has been submitted. Another is expected.
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Wye Road, Kempes Corner
On 29 June a planning application (ref. 17/00999/AS) was submitted by the landowner of the site on Wye Road at Kempes Corner to build a cul-de-sac of 6 dwellings with 4 bedrooms, new access along with associated parking and ancillary buildings. Ashford Borough Council's decision is expected in August.
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Lenacre Hall Farm, Sandyhurst Lane
On 6 July consultants acting for Millwood Designer Homes submitted an application (ref. 17/00005/EIA/AS) for a Screening Opinion on the requirement to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment as a precursor to a planning application for 99 new dwellings on land at Lenacre Hall Farm. Ashford Borough Council's decision was that an EIA is not required.
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Details of both applications can be found on Ashford Borough Council's website where you can register to receive email alerts of planning applications near you or comment on any planning application.
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The need for changes to Ashford Borough's Local Plan 2030 has had a knock on effect on our timetable for the Neighbourhood Plan. A Neighbourhood Plan must integrate with national and local planning policy. We have held off writing our draft plan until Ashford Borough Council published its revised Local Plan.
By the end of the year we expect to have a draft Neighbourhood Plan ready and we will ask you for your views. Our Plan will be scrutinised by Ashford Borough Council and by an Independent Examiner, before being put to a Parish Referendum.
If approved by majority public vote, the Plan will become part of the Council’s statutory Local Plan 2030 to be used in making decisions on planning applications in our area. As a legal document it will carry real weight in planning decisions. Developers and Local Authority Planners will have to take notice of it.
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You can submit your views on the Neighbourhood Plan at any time on our website, www.parishplan.uk.
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This project relies on volunteers. If you would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch today.
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As you can see there is a great deal going on. We aim to keep you informed every step of the way. In addition to our newsletter, we provide updates on Facebook and Twitter. Please give us a like or a follow.
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Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter.
Read previous editions of our newsletter. Connect with us on Twitter @parishplan and Facebook.
Are your neighbours in the loop? Please forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for updates on our website.
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