Sandhurst
Neighbourhood Plan Independent Examination
The Neighbourhood Plan, following the Regulation 16 consultation, is subject to an independent examination. An independent examiner has been appointed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (with the agreement of the qualifying body).
September 2025 examination update: The Borough Council has requested, with agreement from Sandhurst Parish Council, the independent examiner for the Sandhurst Neighbourhood Plan to wait until the Borough Local Plan is adopted to conclude the examination on the Sandhurst Neighbourhood Plan.
One of the ‘basic conditions’ neighbourhood plans are examined against is whether they are in general conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan. The adoption of the Borough Local Plan is expected to be by the end of this year, and will replace three existing development plan documents in the Borough. Waiting for the Borough Local Plan to be adopted before the Sandhurst Neighbourhood Plan examiner issues his final report on the Neighbourhood Plan will ensure the Neighbourhood Plan is assessed against and conforms with the strategic policies in the updated development plan. This approach will also avoid any potential conflicts arising between the different elements of the development plan.
The Borough Council are currently waiting to receive the Inspector’s Final Report on the Borough Local Plan. Once this has been received, it will be published onto the Examination of the Local Plan webpage along with details of the timeline for the Local Plan to be formally adopted by the Borough Council. The examiner for the Sandhurst Neighbourhood Plan will issue his report on the Neighbourhood Plan as quickly as possible after the adoption of the Borough Local Plan. This will allow fact-checking to take place with the Borough Council and the Parish Council as set out in the examination arrangement note dated 7 July 2025.
The following documents are available for viewing:
Neighbourhood Plan Proposal
Sandhurst Parish Council submitted the Sandhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan (SNDP) to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 1 April 2025 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 Sandhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan from 10am on 15 April until midnight on 2 June 2025.
The following documents are available for viewing:
A paper copy of the Plan and supporting documents will be available to view or borrow on Thursdays between 10am and midday at Sandhurst Parish Council, Old School Hall, Back Road, Sandhurst, TN18 5JS. Please email the Parish Clerk at clerk@sandhurstparish.co.uk to arrange for paper copies to be provided outside of these times.
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 Sandhurst Neighbourhood Development Plan is online via the Consultation Portal.
Alternatively, please complete the Response Form and submit your comments:
- by email to: neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
- by post to: Sandhurst 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 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 Sandhurst 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 Sandhurst 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 Sandhurst.
Further information and background documents on the Sandhurst Neighbourhood Plan are available to view on the Parish Council's website.
If you require further information on the Sandhurst Neighbourhood Plan consultation process, please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01892 554056 or email neighbourhoodplans@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.
Pre-Submission Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 14 Consultation)
Sandhurst Parish Council consulted on the Pre-Submission Sandhurst Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 14) between 25 June and 20 August 2024. Details of the consultation along with the Pre-Submission Sandhurst Neighbourhood Plan and other consultation documents may be viewed on the Sandhurst Parish Council website.
Designation of Sandhurst Parish as a Neighbourhood Area
Sandhurst 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 Sandhurst and is the first step for Sandhurst Parish Council in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan.
The borough council approved the neighbourhood area on 19 September 2014.
The following documents are available for viewing: