Before you start…..

Thank you for attending this Public Consultation which is a formal part of the Neighbourhood Development Plan process.  The NDP is a new form of planning document which enables local people to influence how many houses, new businesses, community buildings etc. will be built locally, where they will be built, and what they will look like.  This is important to help us preserve the historic and distinctive character of Rolvenden.

Without a Neighbourhood Development Plan in place, we are at the mercy of busy planners with national housing targets to meet.  Housing numbers, sizes and their locations would be out of our control.

Without your input the draft NDP cannot be submitted for Independent Examination.  If successful at that stage of the process, a local referendum is expected to be held in the spring.   If approved by a majority there our Neighbourhood Development Plan will be adopted by Ashford Borough Council and must be used in law to determine planning applications in the area.  It will become part of the Development Plan alongside the Borough Council’s Local Plan to 2030.

Much work has already been done by the Parish Council and a representative Steering Committee.  We are asking for your considered comments on each of the resulting policy proposals.  Please complete a questionnaire and return in the box provided when you are ready.  Take your time.

Please note: the display material accompanying each proposal is brief but pertinent to that policy.  If you would like more information on how the facts, statements and proposals were reached, please feel free to review the evidence reports either in the folders on display or on line. The web address is on your questionnaire.  In all cases, you are encouraged to read the Draft Plan and eleven Evidence Reports in full.