Neighbourhood planning

Find out how neighbourhood plans help decide planning applications.

Approved neighbourhood plans sit alongside the Local Plan to help make decisions on planning applications.

They give communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. Plans must be led by parish or town councils or neighbourhood forums, with the involvement of local stakeholder groups.

If you're a parish council or community group thinking about developing a neighbourhood plan, get advice from our planning team or call them on 01227 862 178.

Find out more about neighbourhood planning

Current neighbourhood plans

Bridge neighbourhood plan

Bridge Parish Council are preparing a new neighbourhood plan. We received the Examiner's report on Friday 17 November 2023, and have published our Bridge Neighbourhood Plan decision statement which says that the plan can proceed to the referendum stage. 

You can also see the Examiner's report and other available examination documents.

Their original neighbourhood plan area was confirmed by us on 17 April 2019, under Part 2 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. You may want to see the committee report on the designation of that Bridge plan.

Progress on the plan 

The plan has a designated area. The draft plan and supporting documents went out for consultation in the summer of 2023, and were submitted to the Examiner who has published their report. 

We published our decision statement on Tuesday 19 December 2023. 

Chartham neighbourhood plan

Chartham Parish Council is in the process of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The neighbourhood plan area was confirmed by us on 4 December 2019, under Part 2 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. You may want to see the committee report on the designation of the Chartham plan.

Progress on the plan

The plan has a designated area. It has not yet gone through regulations consultation or the examination and referendum processes.

Find out more about the Chartham neighbourhood plan

Fordwich neighbourhood plan

Fordwich Parish Council is in the process of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The neighbourhood plan was confirmed by us on 4 March 2021, under Part 2 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

Progress on the plan

The plan has a designated area. It has not yet gone through regulations consultation or the examination and referendum processes.

You can download the neighbourhood plan letter:

Hoath neighbourhood plan

Hoath Parish Council is in the process of preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The neighbourhood plan area was confirmed by us on 4 January 2023, under Part 2 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

Progress on the plan

The plan has a designated area. It has not yet gone through regulations consultation or the examination and referendum processes.

You can download the neighbourhood plan letter:

Thanington neighbourhood plan

Thanington Parish Council is in the process of preparing a neighbourhood plan. 

The neighbourhood plan area was confirmed by us on 5 October 2020, under Part 2 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. You may want to see the committee report on the designation of the Thanington plan.

Progress on the plan

The plan has a designated area. It has not yet gone through regulations consultation or the examination and referendum processes.

Upper Hardres neighbourhood plan

Upper Hardres Parish Council has decided to stop preparing a neighbourhood plan.

In the Upper Hardres Parish Council minutes of Tuesday 15 November 2022 they say this is because “a Neighbourhood Plan must include sites for development and local resistance to this led to reduced support”.

The neighbourhood plan area was confirmed by us on 24 March 2022, under Part 2 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

Progress on the plan

The plan has a designated area. It has not yet gone through regulations consultation or the examination and referendum processes. Work on the plan has now stopped (November 2022).