Cranbrook and Sissinghurst
Referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan
On 14 September 2023 the Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Plan Referendum was held. In response to the question "Do you want Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Cranbrook and Sissinghurst to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?", the number of votes cast responding 'Yes' was 1,140. The number of votes cast responding 'No' was 89. As more than 50 per cent of those that voted chose 'Yes', the Plan will proceed to Full Council on 4 October 2023, recommending that the Neighbourhood Development Plan be 'made' (adopted) as part of the statutory development plan for the area.
Declaration of Results - Cranbrook and Sissinghurst 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 Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Development Plan (CSNDP) can proceed to a Neighbourhood Planning Referendum.
The decision statement is published here.
The Referendum Version of the NDP can be viewed here below
Please note, the two following corrections were made to the referendum version of the Neighbourhood Plan on 5 September 2023:
- Paragraph 3.26 on page 27 cross-referenced Policy LN7.9, which was changed earlier in the production process to Policy LN3.5. Paragraph 3.26, now correctly references Policy LN3.5.
- The map on page 37 for 'Local Green Space 1 - Allotments at the Frythe Estate' was amended to remove the southern parcel. The amendment was made to correctly reflect the extent of the allotments and the proposed local green space.
For further information about the Neighbourhood Planning Referendum (NPR) process, please see the Cranbrook and Sissinghurst NPR Information Statement.
Neighbourhood Plan Independent Examination
The examiner will in due course report to both the borough council and the qualifying body.
The following examination documents are available for viewing:
Neighbourhood Plan Proposal
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council submitted the Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Development Plan to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 18 July 2022 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 Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Development Plan for a six-week period from Monday, 12 September to 5pm on Monday, 24 October 2022*
* This consultation has been extended until 5pm on Monday, 14 November 2022.
The following documents are available for viewing:
A paper copy will be available for viewing by appointment at the Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council offices at The Old Fire Station, Stone St, Cranbrook TN17 3HF. Please email the Clerk at clerk@cranbrookandsissinghurstpc.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 Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Development Plan is online via the Consultation Portal. Alternatively, you may also submit your comments in the following ways:
- by email to: neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
- by post to: Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Plan, Planning Policy, Planning Services, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RS
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 Cranbrook and Sissinghurst 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 Cranbrook and Sissinghurst 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 Cranbrook and Sissinghurst.
Further information and background documents on the Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Plan are available to view on the Parish Council’s website.
If you require further information on the Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Plan consultation process, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01892 554056 or email neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.
Designation of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst as a Neighbourhood Area
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst 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 Cranbrook and Sissinghurst and is the first step for Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan.
The borough council approved the neighbourhood area in July 2016.
The following documents are available for viewing: