EGERTON'S FUTURE
A big thank you to everyone who came to the open meeting
on Saturday 30th November 2019 (111 of you!)
People took their time to look at the displays and to comment on the lists of key views and heritage assets, on the draft policies and on the possible sites for development. Over 50 people completed the questionnaire and ticked their priorities on the lists of key views and heritage assets. If you were unable to come and see the displays and drafts, but would like to comment on them, please complete the questionnaire, annotate the lists and return them with any additional comments to Jane Carr, either as email attachments to ljanecarr@btinternet.com or as printed copies to Jane Carr, The Granary, Newland Green.
Egerton’s Neighbourhood Plan - To view the latest Draft Plan Policies (updated 1 December 2019) CLICK HERE
Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire - Please find below links to the pdf file for this questionnaire
GREEN SPACES and LOCAL 'HERITAGE' SITES
The ENP steering group has continued the work on key views and vistas that began in the consultation process through the workshops last summer 2018.
To develop policies we need to consolidate the evidence under the 'protect' section of our neighbourhood plan.
One of the policies will cover the 'Green Spaces' which should be protected in and around the built areas in all our village settlements to maintain the character. Please take a look at the suggestions put forward by the residents of Egerton and advise of any other that you believe could be included.
Green Spaces
Spaces between and around buildings and settlements
- The playing fields
- The children’s playground
- The Glebe; grass open space
- Approach to Elm Close from New Road and useful green spaces at the end of Elm Close – possible landing for Air Ambulance
- Junction of Forge Lane and Forstal Road, the grass space with the Silver Birch tree
- Grass around entrance to Harmer’s Way
- Newland Green
- Pembles Cross and wooden seat; this is a green space with a river-let below
- Stonebridge Green and the red telephone box; this is already listed and adopted by the EPC
- Greensand Ridge; with connecting footpaths and water springs
- All paths in the parish
- Bridleways; including the old sunken bridleway up the hill from Hazeldene Farm
- Old track running from Court Lodge and ultimately towards Pivington
- Pockets of woodland on the margins of fields, orchards, significant green verges and ditches; to be identified
- Village Hall
- Pavilion
- Games Barn
- Ancient barrow
- Old stone mounting block on Rock Hill Road
- Molly's stone
- War Memorial in the churchyard
- Airfield memorial along Bedlam Lane; reference made to the fields in the parish
- Remembrance bench on The Glebe
- Cast iron signposts at Newland Green, Egerton House Road, Mundy Bois, Stonebridge Green
- Wooden signpost located in the garden of The Cottage opposite the Barrow House
- Post boxes – if GR or older
- Red phone box at Stonebridge Green
- Signage; Buckles in the street, Oliver’s Garage
- Boundary stones/markers
- Sets of white railings by bridges
- Ancient stone pathway from Egerton House through the orchards to the churchyard
- Kentish rag-stone walls – opposite school, above Oliver’s Garage and close to junction with Stone Hill and Rock Hill Road
- Bridge at Field Mill – builders mark
- Cobblestone pavement outside The Old Vicarage on Rockhill Road.
Local 'Heritage' Sites
A list of 'heritage' sites and features will also be considered for protection; in addition to those already known and scheduled officially as a listed building or monument. Again please make further suggestions so we can finalise this list for inclusion.
V R Post box
EGERTON FORSTAL
Red telephone box
STONEBRIDGE GREEN
WWI memorial
THE GLEBE
W H Buckle sign
THE GLEBE
G R Post box
VILLAGE SHOP
Wooden sign post
CENTRE VILLAGE
WWII ammo dumps
EGERTON HS WOODSEGERTON HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY
EGERTON HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY SUMMARY AND RESULTS
Thank you
We have now received the final report on the Housing Needs Survey, and our thanks again to all those who responded.
The results indicate a need for 27 additional homes over the next 5 years comprised of a mix of affordable homes, homes for older households and open market homes. The Ashford Borough Council 2030 Plan includes a provision on the New Road Site for up to 15 homes, with an anticipated mix of affordable and open market housing. In addition, the 'Sunpatch' site will include up to 8 dwellings for older people.
There may therefore be a shortfall of 4 dwellings over the next 5 years.
Whilst Ashford Borough Council may not see the need for any 'open market' development in Egerton to make a contribution to their overall housing requirement beyond that allocated on the New Road site, Egerton's Neighbourhood Plan aims to cater for housing and development needs up to the year 2040 and, in so doing, to 'future-proof' Egerton for the overall benefit of its residents in terms of economic and environmental sustainability. The proposed development on the 'Sunpatch' site to enable older people to downsize will release onto the open market a number of larger family homes in the village. However, in order to meet the needs of younger people and families that will sustain the vitality of the village, there will be a need to consider the scope for some small-scale development of modestly-sized homes that are more likely to be within the budget of younger residents.
Please click on the links to see the Executive Summary, and Results
Egerton Housing Needs Survey Summary and Results
- Please find below links to the pdf files for this survey
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN UPDATE and NEXT STEPS
Grant Funding
In addition to grant funds already received from Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council, thanks to our local councillors, a substantial grant has also been secured from Locality, an umbrella organisation funded by Government to advise on neighbourhood planning processes and to provide grants to communities that are developing neighbourhood plans. These grants will cover the costs of web site development, consultancy support and the Housing Needs survey. More funding should be available from Locality as and when further support is required.
Consultants
Planning consultants from the South Downs National Park have now been engaged. They will initially be looking at work carried out to date, advising on its fitness for purpose and giving direction based on their experience in neighbourhood planning. They will also be assisting the volunteer steering group members in project work that provides the evidence to support the development of policies, beginning with Green Space and Landscape Character Assessments.