New Neighbourhood Plan
Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan (Review)
Formal Consultation on the Pre-Submission Draft Neighbourhood Plan
Tuesday 6 May 2025 to Monday 30 June 2025
The Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan is being reviewed by Staplehurst Parish Council. We have reached an important milestone in the process having finalised the draft version of the document and I am writing to invite your views on the proposals contained within it.
The consultation will run from Tuesday 6 May 2025 to Monday 30 June 2025.
This is a statutory Pre-Submission Consultation in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).
The Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan is a planning policy document setting out planning and land-use policies that, once ‘made’, will set out how land should be considered in the area, in planning terms. The policies will also be a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications, alongside the policies of the adopted Maidstone Local Plan. This document will ultimately replace the existing Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan 2016 – 2031.
A Steering Group comprising local councillors and volunteers from the community was set up to lead the project on behalf of the Parish Council. A great deal of work has been undertaken to reach the point of having the draft Plan, which we are now consulting on. The Neighbourhood Plan must undergo a rigorous process, including a series of consultations, an independent examination and finally a local referendum.
The Pre-Submission Draft Plan and the associated documents can be downloaded here:
- The Staplehurst Pre-Submission Version Neighbourhood Plan
- Appendix C – Non-designated Heritage Assets
- Appendix D – Local Green Space
- Strategic Environmental Assessment/ Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report
- Staplehurst Housing Needs Survey Final Report
- List of evidence supporting the Neighbourhood Plan
Hard copies of the new Neighbourhood Plan documents are available to view in Staplehurst Library.
We welcome your views on the draft policies.
Please submit your responses in one of the following ways:
- Using the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/StaplehurstReg14
- By email the Parish Clerk: [email protected]
- By post to: Parish Office, Community Centre, High Street, Staplehurst, Kent
TN12 0BJ - In person: A parish councillor and a borough councillor hold a regular surgery in the public library on the last Saturday in each month and they will be publicising the new neighbourhood plan.
Saturday – 31st May 2025 – 10am – 12noon
Saturday – 28th June 2025 – 10am – 12noon
- Annual Parish Meeting Residents can also attend the Annual Parish Meeting on Friday, 16 May, at 7.30pm in the Community Centre North Hall, where more information will be available and questions answered.
If you have any queries or require assistance in viewing the Neighbourhood Plan documents, please contact the Parish Clerk on 01580 891761.
Responses to the consultation must be received by 5pm on Monday 30th June 2025.
We thank you in advance for your comments.
