Autumn 2023

DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Neighbourhood
Development
Plan Update
The Cranbrook
and Sissinghurst
Neighbourhood
Development Plan
(CSNDP) has been
in production since the first
public meetings were held in
2016. Over the years we have
had our successes and our
challenges, but we have always
had tremendous support from
the local community. In 2020,
despite being in the middle of
a pandemic, we ran a highly
successful public (Regulation
14) consultation, producing
thousands of responses, all
of which were looked at and
addressed individually. Two
years later, in July 2022, we
submitted nearly 500 pages of
documentation to TWBC (see my
article in the Spring edition of
Cake) for final consultation and
examination. I’m delighted to
report that their cabinet met on
27 July and approved our Plan for
referendum on 14 September.
The referendum process will
be managed by TWBC, and
all eligible voters will be sent
ballot papers in due course
(voter ID will be required). All
that is required is a simple Yes/
No response to the question,
“Do you want Tunbridge
Wells Borough Council to
use the Neighbourhood
Plan for Cranbrook and
Sissinghurst to help it decide
planning applications in the
neighbourhood area?” For the
Plan to be adopted (or “made”
in the TWBC jargon) there is a
“The Plan proposes a series of policies and seeks to bring forward
positive and sustainable development in the neighbourhood area...”
requirement for a simple majority
of votes to be cast in favour.
This has been a long and
arduous process, which has
been led so well from the very
early days by Nancy Warne, but
thanks must go to everybody,
past and present, who has served
on the Steering Group, or has
contributed by attending our
workshops, feedback sessions,
or by responding to the
consultations. A particular thank
you for all the clerical backup
provided by the parish clerks
and the support and guidance
given by our consultants, Feria
Urbanism.
We have ended up with a
document of which we can be
justly proud (see the Parish
Council website under NDP to
access it) and which received
very positive support from the
Examiner: “The Plan proposes
a series of policies and seeks
to bring forward positive and
sustainable development
in the neighbourhood area.
There is a very clear focus on
safeguarding its distinctive rural
character. It includes a series of
environmental and community
policies. In addition, the Plan
proposes the designation of a
series of local green spaces… It
sets out a positive vision for the
future of the neighbourhood
area. It includes policies to
safeguard its built and natural
environment.”
So, finally, please –
REMEMBER TO VOTE ON 14
SEPTEMBER!
8 The Cake • Autumn 2023