We are pleased to let you know that Fawkham’s Neighbourhood Plan has been submitted to Sevenoaks District Council.
An exhibition detailing the draft Plan was held last summer, alongside a questionnaire seeking feedback on its content. 73 questionnaires were completed – 68 from Fawkham residents. Careful consideration was given to all comments, and the Plan amended accordingly. SDC is now publicising the Plan through a further consultation process, which runs for 6 weeks from 7th June to 19th July. It can be found here: www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/fawkhamnp where there is also a short survey for your feedback. Please do take a look at the final proposed Neighbourhood Plan and give your thoughts.
After this step, the Plan will be examined by an Examiner, independent of both SDC and FPC. We hope the Examiner recommends we proceed to a referendum vote amongst residents on the adoption of the Plan, to sit as legal document used to determine planning applications alongside SDC’s Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. The timescale for this vote is not yet known, although we hope it will take place later this year.
We recognise that the Parish has evolved throughout its long history to meet changing needs and understand there continues to be a need to evolve. But we also recognise the distinctiveness provided by the landscape, heritage and character – assets that should be protected to ensure Fawkham’s sense of place in the Green Belt in the North Downs area of Kent. What came through from evidence gathering and engagement with residents is the desire to protect the beautiful Kent Downs landscape, with its woodland, open fields, biodiversity and panoramic views, as well as maintaining our community facilities and local economy, protecting our heritage and meeting the very small need for housing originating from the Parish, and thereby allow what is a small rural Parish to retain all that it values highly.
Fawkham Parish Council
