Following a positive vote at TWBC Planning & Transportation Cabinet Advisory Board, Benenden’s Neighbourhood Plan now moves to full Cabinet.  This will be held on Tuesday 2nd December, from 10:30.  The agenda for Cabinet has just been published, and Cabinet papers are available on the TWBC website here: https://democracy.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=118&MId=4957 You can find a copy of theRead more about 2nd December: TWBC Full Cabinet Meeting[…]

Following extensive consultation over and above that required, the BNDP went to Independent Examination. After a thorough examination including an all day public hearing specifically to give people the opportunity to set out any concerns, the Independent Examiner approved the BNDP. The plan has been amended in line with recommendations set out by the IndependentRead more about Here’s our latest Draft Plan[…]

Neighbourhood Plans were conceived by central government to encourage local input to the planning process.They enable communities to set planning policies for the local area, including allocating sites for development. But NDPs go beyond a simple blueprint for housing, they also provide the opportunity for communities to identify and protect important local green spaces. InRead more about The NDP: Important Protection for our Green Spaces[…]

I’m very pleased to announce that after a very thorough process, we have now passed the Independent Examination stage – a review by a fully qualified and accredited independent examiner to ensure our Neighbourhood Development Plan meets Local and National Planning guidelines.  He scrutinised our plan closely and held a public hearing specifically to lookRead more about Examination passed. Now for the referendum[…]

Benenden’s Neighbourhood Development Plan has passed the Examination stage of the process. You can find a copy of the Final Report here: Final version of the Benenden Report After nearly six months considering all the evidence, and including a full day hearing the Independent Examiner has now finished his Examination, and issued his Final Report.Read more about The Independent Examiner’s Report has been published[…]

The Benenden Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has now moved to the penultimate stage of the process. Some three and a half years after work commenced, our plan is currently subject to the scrutiny of an independent examiner. The examiner was appointed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) with the agreement of the parish council inRead more about Hearing: In Front of the Independent Examiner[…]

The Independent Examiner has been appointed and is now reviewing our Neighbourhood Plan, see here for more background. The Examiner has decided to hold a public hearing; here are the details. Benenden Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020-2036  Notice of the holding of a Public Hearing  I have been appointed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council with theRead more about Independent Examiner: Hearing Date Announced[…]

The Neighbourhood Development Plan will govern the shape and future of Benenden parish for the foreseeable future and villagers will have the chance to vote for or against it at an upcoming referendum (date to be confirmed). Here the plan’s architects and opponents put their views for and against. Those following Benenden’s Neighbourhood Development PlanRead more about Parish Magazine Special April 2021[…]

With a special edition in April 2021 on the Neighbourhood Development Plan, the Parish Magazine editors asked some pertinent questions of the NDP team, and those with differing views to help prompt debate and discussion in the village. Q. We’ve heard that if the NDP was voted out at a referendum, then no new housesRead more about Parish Magazine April 2021: the big questions, and answers[…]

Around 90% of the public feedback received about our rough draft and two formal phases of consultation concerned the allocation of sites for new building. It’s understandable that proposed building, particularly if it’s close to one’s own home, gets the most attention, but the NDP is actually about much, much more. The plan contains policies and projects, built on your input fromRead more about Our Neighbourhood Development plan: It’s about so much more than building sites[…]