Capel

Key stages

The Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan was ‘made’ by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council at Full Council on 2 October 2024.

Referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan

On 5 September 2024 the Capel Neighbourhood Plan Referendum was held.

In response to the question "Do you want Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Capel to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?", the number of votes cast responding 'Yes' was 412 and those responding 'No' was 47.

As more than 50 per cent of those that voted responded 'Yes', the Plan will proceed to Full Council on 2 October 2024, recommending that the Neighbourhood Development Plan be 'made' (adopted) as part of the statutory development plan for the area.

Declaration of Results - Capel Neighbourhood Plan Referendum

Consideration of Examiner’s report, recommendations, and recommended modifications

Following an independent examination undertaken by written representations, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) confirmed that the Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan (CNDP) can proceed to a Neighbourhood Planning Referendum.

The decision statement is published here

The referendum version of the Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed below:

Neighbourhood Plan Independent Examination

The Neighbourhood Plan, following the Regulation 16 consultation, was subject to an independent examination. An independent examiner was appointed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (with the agreement of the qualifying body).

The examiner recommends in his Final Report dated 29 April 2024 that the Capel Neighbourhood Plan, as modified by the examiner's recommendations, should proceed to referendum.

The following documents are available for viewing:

Neighbourhood Plan Proposal

Capel Parish Council submitted the Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 8 August 2023 in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

In accordance with Regulation 16 the borough council is inviting representations on the Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan for a six-week period from Tuesday 5 September to 5pm on Tuesday 17 October.

The following documents are available for viewing:

A paper copy will be available for viewing by appointment at the Capel Parish Council offices at Capel Village Hall off Falmouth Place, Five Oak Green, TN12 6RD. Please email the Clerk at clerk@capelpc.co.uk to arrange an appointment.

A paper copy will also be on deposit at the Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RS. Please email neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk to arrange an appointment.

The easiest way to submit comments on the Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan is online via the Consultation Portal. Alternatively, please complete the Response Form below and submit your comments in the following ways:

• by email to: neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
• by post to: Capel Neighbourhood Plan, Planning Policy, Planning Services, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RS

Response Form Capel NDP Reg 16

You can submit as many separate comments on the plan as you wish, and you can also provide supporting documents to your response.

Next steps

Following the six-week consultation period, the Borough Council will collate and pass all representations to an independent examiner who will look at them and the Plan documents when assessing whether the Capel Neighbourhood Plan meets the relevant legislation and can proceed to referendum. In responding to the consultation, you may also request to be notified of the Council’s decision regarding the outcome of the independent examination of the Plan (under Regulation 19).

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 Capel Neighbourhood Plan should be confirmed and become part of the Development Plan for the borough, carrying relevant legal weight in the determination of planning applications in the parish of Capel.

Further information and background documents on the Capel Neighbourhood Plan are available to view on the Parish Council's website.

If you require further information on the Capel Neighbourhood Plan consultation process, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01892 554056 or email neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.

Pre-Submission Neighbourhood Plan consultation

Capel Parish Council published its draft, 'Pre-Submission' Neighbourhood Plan, under Regulation 14, on 03 April 2023. The Parish Council are consulting on the Plan until the 26 May 2023.

To view and comment on the draft Regulation 14 Plan, please see the Capel Parish Council website.

Designation of Capel Parish as a Neighbourhood Area

Capel Parish Council applied to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for the designation of a neighbourhood area under The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The area proposed covers the whole of the parished area of Capel and is the first step for Capel Parish Council in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan.

The borough council approved the neighbourhood area on 17 February 2020.

The following documents are available for viewing:

For more information on the Capel Neighbourhood Plan, please see the Capel Parish Council website.