Paddock Wood
Key Stages
The Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Development Plan was 'made' by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council at Full Council on 4 October 2023.
Referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan
On 14 September 2023, the Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Plan Referendum was held. In response to the question "Do you want Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Paddock Wood to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?", the number of votes cast responding 'Yes' was 843. The number of votes cast responding 'No' was 268. 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 – Paddock Wood 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 Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Development Plan (PWNDP) can proceed to a Neighbourhood Planning Referendum.
The decision statement is published here.
The Referendum Version of the NDP can be viewed here below.
For further information about the Neighbourhood Planning Referendum (NPR) process, please see the Paddock Wood NPR Information Statement.
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 16 March 2023 that the Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Plan, as modified by the examiner's recommendations, should proceed to referendum.
Neighbourhood Plan Proposal
Paddock Wood Town Council submitted the Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Development Plan to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 5 August 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 Paddock Wood 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:
- Paddock Wood Submission Neighbourhood Development Plan 2022 (23.8 MB) (PDF)
- Consultation Statement PW NDP (63.3 MB) (PDF)
- Basic Conditions Statement PW NDP (1.55 MB) (PDF)
- HRA Screening PW NDP (4 MB) (PDF)
- SEA Screening PW NDP (364 KB) (PDF)
- Local Green Space Report PW NDP (2.77 MB) (PDF)
- Design Guidance PW NDP (17 MB) (PDF)
A paper copy will be available for viewing by appointment at the Paddock Wood Town Council offices at The Podmore Building, St. Andrews Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6GT. Please email the Clerk at clerk@paddockwoodtc.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 Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Development Plan is online via the Consultation Portal. Alternatively, please complete the response form and submit your comments in the following ways:
- by email to: neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
- by post to: Paddock Wood 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 Paddock Wood 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 Paddock Wood 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 Paddock Wood.
Further information and background documents on the Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Plan are available to view on the Town Council’s website.
If you require further information on the Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Plan consultation process, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01892 554056 or email neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.
Designation of Paddock Wood Town as a Neighbourhood Area
Paddock Wood Town 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 Paddock Wood and is the first step for Paddock Wood Town Council in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan.
The borough council approved the neighbourhood area on 06 February 2014.
The following documents are available for viewing:
Decision notice approving area designation
For information on the Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Plan, please see the Paddock Wood Town Council website.