Neighbourhood planning has been introduced to enable more community involvement in the planning process, so that people can shape their local areas and have a greater say in planning decisions.
There are three types of neighbourhood planning documents:
On 19 March 2025 the Maidstone Borough Council Cabinet resolved that the Headcorn Neighbourhood Development Plan should move to a local referendum and as such the requisite information for this is located below.
| Neighbourhood Area | Designated Area | Regulation 14 | Regulation 16 | Examination | Referendum | Adoption | Review Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearsted | ✓ | ||||||
| Boughton Monchelsea | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Boxley | ✓ | ||||||
| Broomfield & Kingswood | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Chart Sutton | ✓ | ||||||
| Coxheath | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Harrietsham | ✓ | ||||||
| Headcorn | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ||
| Lenham | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Commenced |
| Loose | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Commenced |
| Marden | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Commenced - Regulation 14 |
| North Loose | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Otham | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Staplehurst | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Commenced - Regulation 14 |
| Sutton Valence | ✓ | ||||||
| Tovil | ✓ | ||||||
| Yalding | ✓ |
The table below provides a brief summary of each area in the Borough that have started the Neighbourhood Planning process. Please click on each neighbourhood area to get further detailed information on each neighbourhood plan.
Table Key
Neighbourhood Planning is governed by the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 and is made up of a number of key stages;
Designation of a Neighbourhood Area (Regulation 5 to 7)
The relevant Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum should submit a Neighbourhood Area Application for determination by Maidstone Borough Council.
Designation of a Neighbourhood Forum (Regulations 8 to 10)
The relevant Neighbourhood Forum should submit a Neighbourhood Forum Application for determination by Maidstone Borough Council.
Preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan
Following successful Neighbourhood Area Application (and designation of a Neighbourhood Forum where relevant) the Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum will be responsible for preparing the neighbourhood plan, with the support of Maidstone Borough Council.
Pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14)
The Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum is required to carry out a 6week pre-submission consultation on the draft neighbourhood plan. This consultation must bring the plan to the attention of the people who live, work or carry out business in the Neighbourhood Area. Maidstone Borough Council must also be consulted at this stage.
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Maidstone Borough Council has a duty to formally check the need for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Where a neighbourhood plan requires an SEA, work on this should start well before the draft neighbourhood plan is formally submitted (at the pre-submission consultation).
Submission and consultation (Regulations 15 and 16)
The Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum is then required to formally submit the draft plan to Maidstone Borough Council together with a Consultation Statement, Basic Conditions Statement and conclusion of SEA matters. Maidstone Borough will then carry out a 6-week consultation.
Examination (Regulation 17)
Maidstone Borough Council will submit the submission plan to the independent examiner for examination as soon as possible after receipt with any representations received and any other documents submitted with the plan.
Referendum (Regulation 18)
Should the examiner recommend that the neighbourhood plan should proceed to referendum, Maidstone Borough Council will hold a referendum on whether the neighbourhood plan should come into force.
Referendum
Maidstone Borough Council hold referendum on whether the neighbourhood plan should come into force.
Decision to make a neighbourhood plan (Regulations 19 and 20)
Whether the referendum is unsuccessful or successful, Maidstone Borough Council will publish the result. Should the referendum be successful, Maidstone Borough Council will make the Neighbourhood Plan.
The Statement of Community Involvement 2020 sets out when and how stakeholders and the local community can get involved in the preparation of local plans, neighbourhood development plans and supplementary planning documents, and be involved in the process of decision making on planning applications.
There was a temporary addendum in relation to Covid 19 Temporary Addendum which can be viewed here. As restrictions have been lifted this addendum has now been revoked.
The Neighbourhood Planning Protocol supports the Statement of Community Involvement and outlines detailed actions for each regulatory stage. Have a look at our advice note which outlines the process.
Locality offer advice and guidance for communities looking to produce a Neighbourhood Plan.
There are 7 made (adopted) neighbourhood plans in Maidstone
Further advice and guidance can be found on our advice note pages.
Locality offer advice and guidance for communities looking to produce a Neighbourhood Plan.
If you would like to get in contact with us please email neighbourhoodplanning@maidstone.gov.uk