Benenden Parish Council submitted the Benenden Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 2 October 2020 in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

In accordance with Regulation 16 the TWBC invited representations on the Benenden Neighbourhood Development Plan for a six-week period from 9am on Friday 30 October to 5pm on Friday 11 December 2020.

The Plan itself, alongside a range of supporting documents remains available on the TWBC website (link here).  The page also provides a copy of the first formal draft of the Plan (the ‘Regulation 14’ draft), and a richard mille rm 007 replica form for responses.

Following the six-week consultation period, TWBC collate and pass all representations to an independent examiner who will look at them and the Plan documents.  Their role is to assess whether the Benenden NDP meets the relevant legislation and can proceed to referendum.  In responding to the consultation, you may also request to be notified of TWBC’s decision regarding the outcome of the independent examination of the Plan.

If the examiner and the Council believe that the Plan meets all the relevant requirements, then a decision will be made to hold a referendum on the Plan, which will allow residents to decide whether the Benenden Neighbourhood Development Plan should be confirmed.  If confirmed Benenden’s NDP will become part of the Development Plan for the borough, carrying relevant legal weight in the determination of planning applications in the parish of Benenden.