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 33% of survey complete.
The following questionnaire contains 15 questions that specifically relate to the document, "The Way Forward" which we invite you to read beforehand.  The questionnaire will open in a separate window so you can refer back to the document if you need to.  You may add additional comments at the end of the questionnaire.

Question Title

* A. Contact Details

Which key objectives does the plan need to address?

The Local Plan has 4 Objectives as follows:

Plan Objective 1: As far as possible to provide for homes and jobs that are best suited to meet identified local needs.

Plan Objective 2: Support and sustain local communities across the borough, big and small, by planning to meet identified needs, including needs for community facilities.

Plan Objective 3: Protect high value, important natural and heritage assets.

Plan Objective 4: Deliver sustainable growth to support urban and rural economies, making the best use of infrastructure.

Question Title

* 1. Do you agree or disagree with this set of objectives for the new Local Plan? (See p.17 of “The Way Forward” for more details)

What are the building blocks for the Local Plan strategy?

National planning policy has identified a number of key requirements that should underpin strategies in Local Plans. We have interpreted these as three building blocks (see list below) that should form the foundation of any strategy considered for this Local Plan.

Building Blocks:

Meeting identified development needs on:

A.      Brownfield land within the built-up confines of settlements.
B.      Land safeguarded in the existing Development Plan for future development, including the area of opportunity.
C.      Land at low risk of flooding within existing settlements

Question Title

* 2. Do you agree or disagree with this set of building blocks for the Local Plan strategy? (See page 19 of “The Way Forward” for more details)

Which principles should guide the development strategy for the new Local Plan?

The outcome of the assessment of the building blocks means that in order to effectively respond to Government policy, local evidence and the draft plan objectives, we need to consider opportunities beyond existing settlement confines.

To help guide decision-making on which opportunities should be considered and assessed in more detail a set of principles have been prepared.

The guiding principles identified to guide decisions about the location of future development are as follows:

1.       Focussing opportunities adjacent to the principal urban areas of the Medway Gap and Tonbridge, in each housing market area.

2.       Focussing opportunities adjacent to a range of settlements across the borough to help support and sustain local communities, big and small.

3.       Locating new development in reasonable proximity to transport hubs, utilising and building upon existing infrastructure.

4.       Locating new development in the least constrained parts of the borough.

5.       To provide a mixed portfolio and location of sites, big and small, to meet a range of needs throughout the duration of the plan period up to 2031, over the short-term (up to 5 years), medium-term (6-10 years) and over the long-term (11-15 years).

6.       To deliver a sustainable level of growth to facilitate significant improvements to supporting infrastructure, eg schools, highways and healthcare, for the benefit of existing and new communities.

7.       Focussing development on the contribution that larger potential sites could deliver in a proportionate way to meet wider plan objectives and ensure delivery in the plan period.

Please Note: These principles should not be read in isolation.

Question Title

* 3. Do you agree or disagree with this set of guiding principles? (See p. 22 of “The Way Forward” for more details)

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