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Parish Cake Autumn 2020

Neighbourhood Development Plan Special

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NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN<br />

Housing<br />

The right houses in the right places?<br />

Garry Pethurst discusses<br />

WE PROBABLY all know that<br />

the government has pledged<br />

to build 300,000 new homes a<br />

year to make up for the failure<br />

of previous governments<br />

to meet the housing<br />

requirements of a rising<br />

population and the changing<br />

needs within that population<br />

(e.g. more of us living on our<br />

own).<br />

At the last census, in 2011,<br />

there were 2,741 household<br />

spaces in the parish.<br />

Tunbridge Wells Borough<br />

Council published its draft<br />

Local Plan last autumn, which<br />

many of us commented on.<br />

That document suggested that<br />

between 818 and 918 additional<br />

houses could be built in the<br />

parish by 2036, the majority of<br />

them within the next 10 years.<br />

This represents an increase<br />

of 33% and the NDP Housing<br />

policies seek to ensure that the<br />

right houses of the right quality<br />

are built in the right places to<br />

meet the current and future<br />

needs of our community.<br />

AFFORDABLE HOMES<br />

In January <strong>2020</strong> the average<br />

price of a house in our area<br />

was £506,000, which is 16<br />

times the estimated average<br />

salary of people living in<br />

the parish. In 2017, the NDP<br />

surveyed local businesses<br />

who indicated that over<br />

80% of their staff travelled<br />

to work from as far away as<br />

Gillingham, because they<br />

could not afford to live here.<br />

This is not sustainable and<br />

must be addressed, but how?<br />

The same survey suggested<br />

we would have to build 300<br />

homes for these workers, but<br />

it is very clear that they would<br />

have to be at a price that they<br />

could afford.<br />

QUALITY OF LIFE<br />

In the 2011 census over 25%<br />

of the parish was over the age<br />

of 60, an indication of our<br />

increasingly ageing population.<br />

Many of these will probably<br />

be wanting to downsize, but<br />

where are the properties to<br />

meet their need, which will<br />

enable them to continue to<br />

live independent lives for as<br />

long as they are able/want?<br />

We are calling for high quality,<br />

appropriately sized housing<br />

designed to be adaptable to<br />

meet future needs.<br />

The government has set<br />

a target of net zero carbon<br />

emissions by 2050. Besides<br />

getting out of our cars, any<br />

houses built in the parish<br />

should be in the vanguard to<br />

ensure that they are designed<br />

to reduce our carbon footprint.<br />

What do you Think?<br />

Have Your Say!<br />

Consultation on the neighbourhood<br />

development plan runs from mid-<br />

October for six weeks. All your<br />

comments will be taken into account<br />

and will help to inform the final version.<br />

Your voice matters and can make a<br />

difference!<br />

View and respond at www.cranbrookandsissinghurstndp.co.uk<br />

Email at info@cranbrookandsissinghurstndp.co.uk<br />

Or see hard copies and leave your comments at the <strong>Parish</strong> Office, The Old<br />

Fire Station, Stone Street, Cranbrook TN17 3HF.<br />

16 <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> • <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2020</strong>

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