Draft Local Plan 2042 - Regulation 18 consultation
PLEASE NOTE THIS CONSULTATION DOES NOT OPEN UNTIL 9AM ON MONDAY 18 AUGUST 2025.
The council is working to prepare a new Local Plan for borough and is inviting you to have your say on the draft Local Plan 2042.
What is the draft Local Plan?
The council is consulting on a draft version of the Plan, known as a Regulation 18. This 8-week consultation is the first formal consultation stage of the Local Plan.
The draft Local Plan sets out the council's direction of travel on a number of planning matters, such as housing, economic development and the environment for the period up to 2042.
How do I respond to the consultation?
You can respond to the consultation online, via email or by post.
Online (please note these links will only become live at 9am)
Comments can be made directly using the links below or at the bottom of the webpage:
Give your comments on the draft Local Plan
Give your comments on the Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA)
Give your comments on the other supporting documents
By email or post
The preferred method of responding is via our online consultation form (see above). If you are unable to respond via the online form, please download the comment forms on the right hand panel under the sections titled 'How to comment ..'.
The comment forms are available to download as a Word document or as a PDF.
To return via email to send to planning.policy@ashford.gov.uk
Return via post to Plan-Making & Infrastructure Team, Spatial Planning, Ashford Borough Council, International House, Dover Place, Ashford, TN23 1HU.
When do I have to provide my comments by?
All comments must be submitted to the council by 5pm on Monday 13 October 2025.
The Council will not be able to accept late submissions.
Can I see the draft Local Plan in person?
Copies of the draft Local Plan, comment forms and the evidence documents will be available to view at the following locations:
- Ashford Borough Council, International House, Dover Place, Ashford, TN23 1HU
- Ashford Gateway, Church Road, Ashford, TN23 1AS
- Tenterden Gateway, 2 Manor Row, Tenterden, TN30 6HP
- Charing Library, Market Place, Charing, TN27 0LR
- Wye Library, 6 Upper Bridge Street, Wye, TN25 5AF
Drop-in events
As part of the consultation, the council will also be holding several 'drop-in' events around the borough to help answer your questions about the draft Local Plan consultation. Anyone can attend any of the events anywhere in the borough, simply drop-in (no registration required).
| Venue | Date | Time |
| Ashford Cinema, Elwick Road, Ashford, TN23 1AE | Thursday 11 September 2025 | 3 - 7pm |
| Tenterden Leisure Centre, Recreation Ground Road, Tenterden, TN30 6RA | Tuesday 16 September 2025 | 3 - 7pm |
| Kingsnorth Village Hall, Church Hill, Kingsnorth, TN23 3EF | Friday 19 September 2025 | 4 - 8pm |
| Sandyacres Sports & Social Club, Sandyhurst Lane, Ashford, TN25 4NT | Tuesday 23 September 2025 | 3 - 7pm |
| Mersham Village Hall (Mountbatten Hall), The Forstal, Church Road, Mersham, TN25 6NU | Thursday 25 September 2025 | 3 - 7pm |
| Wye Village Hall, Bridge Street, Wye, TN25 5EA | Monday 29 September 2025 | 3 - 7pm |
| Virtual event (via Microsoft Teams) - link to be uploaded in due course | Thursday 2 October 2025 | 5 - 6.15pm |
Do you have land for potential development in the borough?
The council has opened its Call for Sites and are inviting landowners, developers, businesses, community groups and residents in the borough to suggest land that may potentially be available for inclusion in the Local Plan. The 'Call for Sites' will be open from 18 August - 13 October 2025.
View details about how to submit sites on the Call for Sites webpage.
The council is also inviting any submissions for land may potentially be available for inclusion in the Local Plan as Local Green Space (LGS).
Spaces that may be suitable as Local Green Space should be submitted through our dedicated Local Green Space submission form on the Call for Sites webpage.
Find out more about submitting a site.
What should I do if I have any questions?
You can contact the Plan Making & Infrastructure team via planning.policy@ashford.gov.uk. Or simply pop in to one of our 'drop-in' events.