Draft Policy SP3:Strategic Approach to Economic Development We are pleased to see reference in draft policy SP3 that the Council will promote appropriate rural employment opportunities in sustainable locations. Pickhill Business Centre is well-established and the Site is well-placed to provide appropriate rural employment in a sustainable location, particularly once the considerations set out above are incorporated.

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Policy SP3 outlines that 66 hectares of new employment land will be delivered and 11,100 new jobs will be achieved in the borough between 2014 and 2030, including through the maximisation of town centre opportunities and promoting rural employment opportunities. We agree with paragraph 3.84 which identifies the critical investment in transport infrastructure as they key driver for employment growth within the borough and contributing to Ashford being the number one place for business location w

Section 3 – Strategic Policies Economic Development We support the Strategic Objectives of the Local Plan outlined in Policy SP1. In particular we support the objective to provide a range of employment opportunities to respond to the needs of business, support the growing population and attract inward investment. It should be made clear that significant weight in the planning process should be given to development proposals that are consistent with these objectives. We welcome the recognit

The plan needs to positively prescribe a green corrider between the urban sprawl of Ashford and the villages of Mersham and Sevington. This should comprise WE15 and a swathe of land to the East of Cheesemans Green Lane. Failure to do so will result in the demise of the village of Mersham in a similar way to that which has already happened in the village of Kingsnorth. Kingsnorth is fast becoming the "new Willesborough of Ashford." Planning policies should be positively formed to protect the iden

Paragraph 3.107 In response to your consultation I have the following points: 1. It is important to prevent development between Highfield Lane and Blind Lane to prevent Mersham village being swallowed up in an industrial estate. 2. HGV traffic must be prevented from blocking country lanes around Mersham and yet they are already parking near Highfield Lane/Kingsford street near the bridge over the M20 between Tesco and Mersham. 3. Traffic flow and access to housing at South Willesborough must

1/ MERSHAM the warehouse development at U19 in Sevington will be a total and complete eyesore. Therefore the development of WE15 must not be allowed to go ahead. ABC planners must also protect land at Cheesemans Green to make sure that lower Mersham is protected from being joined to Ashford by inappropriate development.

3.85 states "HS1 -The impact of a 38 minute journey time to London, Kings Cross / St Pancras will result in companies moving operations out of London to Ashford, but will also result in Kent companies locating to Ashford to take advantage of its central location within Kent and proximity to London." HS1 at peak hours AM to London and PM from London is at full capacity and no further Javelin rolling stock has been procured. The plan should not have any dependency on expansion of HS1 capacity to

ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT * 3.86 will French companies continue to relocate to Ashford post-Brexit? Impact if they do not, or if they leave? Any revisions to this plan planned? * 3.88 Absolutely. * 3.105 parking for all these new workers will be essential

Economic Forecasting In 2012 GL Herne suggested that the 'downside risks' jobs scenario had the greatest probability of playing out. Since then the Council has assessed the employment target as too pessimistic, and suggest that the 'baseline' scenario of 12600 new jobs target would be more appropriate. Given the creation of 1500 new jobs between 2010 and 2014 and the likelihood of the continuation of a low growth economy in the years following 'Brexit' CPRE Kent believe the appropriate realist