New Neighbourhood Plan
Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan (Review)
Formal Consultation on the Pre-Submission Draft Neighbourhood Plan
Maidstone Borough Council has requested that a further document be published at this Pre-Submission stage. This is the Modifications Statement, which summarises how the current Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan has been amended as part of this review process. It also sets out the extent of the modifications, which we consider to be significant enough to warrant a further examination and referendum.
We are extending the consultation period to allow for feedback on this new document. During this period, we are also continuing to accept comments on the Pre-Submission Version Neighbourhood Plan itself.
The extended consultation period will run from 9am Wednesday 13th August to 11.59pm to Friday 26th September 2025 5.00pm.
Link to the additional document: SNP-Modifications-Statement_August-2025.pdf
This is a statutory Pre-Submission Consultation in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).
The Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan is a planning policy document setting out planning and land-use policies that, once ‘made’, will set out how land should be considered in the area, in planning terms. The policies will also be a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications, alongside the policies of the adopted Maidstone Local Plan. This document will ultimately replace the existing Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan 2016 – 2031.
A Steering Group comprising local councillors and volunteers from the community was set up to lead the project on behalf of the Parish Council. A great deal of work has been undertaken to reach the point of having the draft Plan, which we are now consulting on. The Neighbourhood Plan must undergo a rigorous process, including a series of consultations, an independent examination and finally a local referendum.
The Pre-Submission Draft Plan and the associated documents can be downloaded here:
- The Staplehurst Pre-Submission Version Neighbourhood Plan
- Appendix C – Non-designated Heritage Assets
- Appendix D – Local Green Space
- Strategic Environmental Assessment/ Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report
- Staplehurst Housing Needs Survey Final Report
- List of evidence supporting the Neighbourhood Plan
Hard copies of the new Neighbourhood Plan documents are available to view in Staplehurst Library.
We welcome your views on the draft policies.
Please submit your responses in one of the following ways:
- Using the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/StaplehurstReg14
- By email the Parish Clerk: clerk@staplehurst-pc.gov.uk
- By post to: Parish Office, Community Centre, High Street, Staplehurst, Kent
TN12 0BJ - In person: A parish councillor and a borough councillor hold a regular surgery in the public library on the last Saturday in each month and they will be publicising the new neighbourhood plan.
If you have any queries or require assistance in viewing the Neighbourhood Plan documents, please contact the Parish Clerk on 01580 891761.
The extended consultation period will run from 9am Wednesday 13th August to 11.59pm to Friday 26th September 2025 5.00pm.
We thank you in advance for your comments.
