WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
The Plan may be revised in the light of feedback from the consultation and will then be formally submitted to Ashford Borough Council by the end of June. Ashford Borough Council are required to make the plan available for wider public consultation for a 6 week period which we anticipate would be in July - September.
EXAMINATION
At the end of public consultation, Ashford Borough Council will appoint an independent Examiner who will review the content of the Plan and may require further amendment or clarification.
REFERENDUM
Following Examination, there will be a Referendum for everyone living in Egerton to decide whether or not to accept the Plan. If more than 50% of those voting approve the Plan it will become a formal, legal document, registered with Ashford Borough Council and part of the local plan.
WHAT IS IN THE PLAN?
1. VISION
- to protect and conserve the quality of community life and the parish environment as identified by its residents;
- to ensure that there is a sustainable future for the people who live and work in the parish including access to housing, infrastructure, business and leisure/community facilities; and
- to develop housing and supporting infrastructure that is sensitive to the distinctive character of the parish and meets the needs of local people.
2. EGERTON NOW
A brief description of the parish, its population, economic activity, village assets such as the Millennium Hall and the Sports Pavilion, and the local infrastructure.
3. POLICIES TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE EGERTON’S INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER AND ENVIRONMENT
The 6 policies in this section cover:
- Distinctive landscape character (what makes Egerton special)
- Protection and/or improvement of footpaths and byways, trees and woodland
- Local green spaces to be protected
- Key views and vistas to be protected
- A new local list of heritage assets chosen by village residents
- Light pollution and the need to protect Egerton’s dark skies
4. POLICIES TO ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR EGERTON
Egerton’s sustainability rests as much on the spirit and activities of the community as on the infrastructure which supports it. The sustainability policies cover:
- Protection and/or improvement of community assets such as the Millennium Hall, the Games Barn and the Sports Pavilion
- The possible introduction of a community open space for Egerton Forstal residents
- Additional parking at the Sports Pavilion
5. DEVELOPMENT POLICIES TO MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE LOCAL NEED
The development policies reinforce the need for application of the Parish Design Statement, development to meet local needs as identified in the Housing Needs Survey (on 3 sites, the New Road site already identified in the Ashford 2030 Plan, the Orchard Nurseries site for older people’s housing in the centre of the village, and one additional site for local needs affordable housing) and guidelines on renewable energy. The policies cover:
- Principles for new development
- Application of the Parish Design Statement
- Housing Policy
- The Orchard Nurseries site for older people’s housing
- The Gale Field site for affordable local needs housing
- Definition of the village confines
- Business and residential development of redundant farm buidings
- Water supply and drainage
- Renewable energy and climate change mitigation