On the 7th April we will hold an exhibition of where we are with the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). This will be in the Village Hall from 10am to 4pm. Please do plan to come to this exhibition.
It may be helpful if I clarified the position of the 14 sites identified in response to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s ‘Call for Sites’ in 2016 and 2017. Landowners have identified sites they are willing and able to offer for development – but this does not mean these sites are in any way suitable for development. We live in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and there are many other reasons (views, history, agriculture, woodland, wildlife, ecology, etc) why the countryside in Benenden should be protected. As part of the NDP process we are seeking to objectively assess the suitability of each site for development. TWBC, as the local planning authority, will also be making their assessment. Some of the sites will be assessed as wholly unsuitable. Others may be assessed as having some development potential and for those we are considering the design, density and type of housing that is both appropriate and needed in our Village. Our Housing Supply Working Group has determined criteria to assess the suitability of the sites – and the members of the group have received training from the planning authority. We are considering too the needs of local businesses (the Business and Local Economy Group will publish their survey findings at the 7th April exhibition) and the problems of transport and infrastructure. Most interesting to me at a recent Steering Group meeting was the mapping of facts and features by the Landscaping Group.
We are also looking at Community Land Trusts as a vehicle to own or administer or development the properly affordable housing that is assessed to be needed in Benenden.
The seemingly relentless pressure to build more houses is today’s big issue. So, if you are able to spare some time to help in the formulation of the NDP, then please considered getting involved. We all have personal views on the sites submitted in the ‘Call for Sites’ and the developments we support or oppose. The NDP is our opportunity to evidence the needs of the community and how we collectively consider it should be developed between now and 2033.
Tom Dawlings,
Steering Committee Vice-Chair