Goudhurst

Key stages

The Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan was ‘made’ by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council at Full Council on 23 February 2022.

The Neighbourhood Plan

On 3 February 2022, the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Plan Referendum was held. In response to the question "Do you want Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Goudhurst to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?", the number of votes cast responding 'Yes' was 525. The number of votes cast responding 'No' was 45. As more than 50 per cent of those that voted chose 'Yes', the Plan will proceed to Full Council on 23 February 2022, recommending that the Neighbourhood Development Plan be 'made' (adopted) as part of the statutory development plan for the area.

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 Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan (GNDP) can proceed to a Neighbourhood Planning Referendum.

The decision statement is published here.

Please note that Figure 7 Local Green Spaces(LGS) for Goudhurst has been updated to not include areas ‘102’ and AS20. The list of LGSs beneath Figure 7 remains unchanged. Figure 9 LGS for Curtisden Green has also been updated to not include area AS2. The list of LGSs beneath Figure 9 remains unchanged.
This reflects the outcome of the Final Examiner’s Report for the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Plan, that at para 7.66 requires deletion of  LGS 102, AS2 and AS20 from the relevant Maps.

The area that the referendum is to cover is that of the Neighbourhood Area, i.e., Goudhurst parish.

The anticipated date for the referendum is Thursday 3 February 2022.

Neighbourhood Plan Independent Examination

The examiner recommends in his Final Report dated 7 November 2016 that the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Plan, as modified by the examiner's recommendations, should proceed to referendum.

The neighbourhood plan has been subject to an independent examination. The Borough Council appointed an independent examiner (with the agreement of the qualifying body). The examiner has reported to both the Borough Council and the qualifying body.

The following examination documents are available for viewing:

Neighbourhood Plan Proposal

Goudhurst Parish Council submitted the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 21 December 2020 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 Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan for a six-week period from 9am on Monday 11 January to 5pm on Monday 22 February 2021.

The following documents are available for viewing:

The submitted Plan, response form and supporting documents can be downloaded from this webpage, or you can view and make comments via the Planning Policy Consultation Portal.

The easiest way to submit comments on the Goudhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan is online via the Planning Policy Consultation Portal

Alternatively, you may also submit your comments in the following ways:

• by email to: neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk (please use the response form, which you can download from the document list above)
• by post to: Goudhurst Neighbourhood Plan, Planning Policy, Planning Services, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, 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.

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 Goudhurst 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 (see Question 2a of the response form).

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 Goudhurst 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 Goudhurst.

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

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

Designation of Goudhurst Parish as a Neighbourhood Area

Goudhurst 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 Goudhurst and is the first step for Goudhurst Parish Council in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan.

The borough council approved the neighbourhood area on 7 November 2016.

The following documents are available for viewing:

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