Lamberhurst

Key stages

The Lamberhurst Neighbourhood Plan was ‘made’ by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council at Full Council on 6 October 2021.

6 October 2021

Referendum supports the Neighbourhood Plan

On 16 September 2021, the Lamberhurst Neighbourhood Plan Referendum was held. In response to the question "Do you want Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Lamberhurst to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?", the number of votes cast responding 'Yes' was 321. The number of votes cast responding 'No' was 27. As more than 50 per cent of those that voted chose 'Yes', the Plan will proceed to Full Council on 6 October 2021, recommending that the Neighbourhood Development Plan be 'made' (adopted) as part of the development plan for the area.

Declaration of Results - Lamberhurst 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 Lamberhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan (LNDP) would proceed to a Neighbourhood Planning Referendum.

The decision statement is published here.

The Referendum Version of the NDP can be viewed here below

View the referendum version of the Lamberhurst Neighbourhood Plan

The area under which the referendum was held was that of the Neighbourhood Area, i.e., Lamberhurst parish.

The date on which the referendum took place was Thursday 16 September 2021.

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 20 June 2022 that the Lamberhurst Neighbourhood Plan, as modified by the examiner's recommendations, should proceed to referendum.

The following examination documents are available for viewing:

Neighbourhood Plan Proposal

Lamberhurst Parish Council submitted the Lamberhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 7 October 2020 in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

In accordance with Regulation 16 the Borough Council invited representations on the Lamberhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan for a six-week period from 30 October to 11 December 2020.

The following documents are available for viewing:

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 Lamberhurst 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 above).

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 Lamberhurst 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 Lamberhurst.

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

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

Designation of Lamberhurst Parish as a Neighbourhood Area

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

The borough council approved the neighbourhood area on 29 December 2017.

The following documents are available for viewing:

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