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
Adopted neighbourhood plans
Bridge neighbourhood plan
Bridge Parish Council have prepared a neighbourhood plan which was adopted on 22 April 2024.
We received the Examiner's report on Friday 17 November 2023, and published our Bridge Neighbourhood Plan decision statement which says that the plan can proceed to the referendum stage.
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.
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.
The Bridge Neighbourhood Plan referendum was held on Thursday 28 March 2024 and the vote was as follows:
- Number cast in favour of a ‘Yes’: 398 (66%)
- Number cast in favour of a ‘No’: 207 (34%)
You can see hard copies of the plan and decision statement at the Canterbury City Council offices on Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm.
You might want to see other related documents:
Neighbourhood plans in progress
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
Chestfield neighbourhood plan
In January 2025, Chestfield Parish Council submitted an application for the designation of a Neighbourhood Area in line with Regulation 5 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).
Progress on the plan
The proposed Neighbourhood Area, as submitted by Chestfield Parish Council, included the existing Chestfield Parish boundary along with additional land to the west of the Parish, to include the full extent of the draft site allocation policy ‘W4 - Brooklands Farm’ as identified in the Draft Canterbury District Local Plan (Regulation 18) (2024). In accordance with Regulation 6 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations (2012) (as amended), Canterbury City Council invited representations from residents, businesses and other stakeholders regarding the application made by Chestfield Parish Council.
The consultation was open for 6 weeks from 11 February 2025 to 25 March 2025.
Following consultation, the proposed Neighbourhood Area boundary submitted by Chestfield Parish Council was formally designated as the Chestfield Neighbourhood Area at the meeting of the council's Cabinet on 23 April 2025 in line with Regulation 6A of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).
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).