9.1 Ashford Town Centre Parking Review: Ashford Borough Council (ABC) appointed Peter Brett Associates to provide a review and update of the existing parking strategy to establish potential capacity and future demands arising from development envisaged in the Local Plan. 

9.2 Ashford Cycling Strategy: Sustrans have been contracted to survey every town in England for the Department for Transport to provide cycle data. The cycling strategy builds upon this evidence and sets out a strategy for cycling in the town of Ashford.

9.3 Draft Ashford Borough Cultural Strategy: The strategy looks at the existing art and cultural industry provision within the borough but with a specific focus on the town of Ashford. It then looks at opportunities for the industry to expand and what the future demands might be for a variety of space as a result of development coming forward over the Plan period.

9.4 Draft Ashford Borough Outdoor Sports and Indoor Facilities Strategy: Reviews and audits all outdoors sports pitches and indoor facilities in the borough. The Strategy then sets out how this provision could be expanded and managed up to 2030, in a sustainable way. The Strategy is Sports England compliant in that it follows their guidance and has had input from various national governing bodies for sports (including football, rugby, hockey and cricket). 

9.5 Draft Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2016: Sets out the infrastructure that will be needed up to 2030 in order to support the growth envisaged in the Local Plan. The IDP is supported by a Infrastructure Delivery Schedule which separates this provision into various themes and provides an indication of when the provision is needed, who is the lead body to deliver it, what it will broadly cost and what the likely funding gap is. The IDP and IDS are both iterative in nature and have been supported by extensive input from infrastructure providers. 

9.6 Employment Land Review 2016: Commissioned by the Council and carried out by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners in 2016. Provides a review of current provision and forecasts future demands in terms of employment land needs, by sector. 

9.7 Gypsy, traveller and travelling showpeople assessments (2012 and update 2016): ABC commissioned Salford Housing and Urban Studies Unit (SHUSU) at the University of Salford to produce an updated Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment, establishing the needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. This report presents the projection of permanent and transit requirements for the period 2012-2028. ABC produced an update to this work in 2016. 

9.8 Habitat regulation assessment and appropriate assessment: Habitats Regulations Assessment. The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 transposes EU Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats of wild flora and fauna into UK national law. The Regulations provide for the designation and protection of 'European sites', the protection of 'European protected species', and the adaptation of planning and other controls for the protection of European Sites. Assessments for significant effects on habitats must be carried out and mitigation measure identified.

9.9 Retail and leisure needs assessment 2015: Assessment which advises on the level of retail / leisure development that is required based on the current provision and market share and how this could change as a result planned growth up to 2030.

9.10 Rural economic assessment: The purpose of the study is to assess the likely growth of the rural economy to 2030 and to identify locations within the rural area of Ashford Borough that are capable and suitable for accommodating jobs and industry to support the growth of the local economy.

9.11 Strategic employment options report: Ashford Borough Council commissioned a Strategic Employment Options Report to consider future demand for employment land to 2030. The report has been prepared by a consultancy team, comprising GL Hearn (GLH), Cambridge Econometrics (CE) and SQW.

9.12 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment: An SFRA is a planning tool that assists councils in their selection and development of sustainable site allocations away from vulnerable flood risk areas. The SFRA will assist the council to make the spatial planning decisions required to inform the forthcoming Local Plan for the period up to 2030.

9.13 Strategic housing and employment land availability assessment: A Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) is a requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which requires LPA's to: ‘prepare a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment to establish realistic assumptions about the availability, suitability and the likely economic viability of land to meet the identified need for housing over the plan period.’

9.14 Strategic housing market assessment: The purpose of the SHMA is to develop a robust understanding of housing market dynamics, to provide an assessment of future needs for both market and affordable housing and the housing requirements of different groups within the population.

9.15 Sustainability Appraisal /Strategic Environmental Assessment: In line with relevant EU and UK legislation, these documents review the policy framework against economic, social and environmental factors to ensure that they contribute towards the aims of sustainable development. 

9.16 Transport evidence - Court Lodge Link Road: A report undertaken by Amey, commissioned by ABC through KCC, which provides design support in respect of the proposed Court Lodge Link Road as identified in the Local Plan.

9.17 Transport modelling: Amey have been commissioned by Kent County Council (KCC), in partnership with Ashford Borough Council (ABC), to assess the impact of major Local Plan allocation sites to the north of Ashford town centre. This report aims to assess the impact of two sites (Kennington East and Eureka) on the local highway network.

9.18 Whole Plan Viability: Evidence which assess the cost implications on the development industry, stemming from the policy framework contained within the Local Plan.  It has been prepared in consultation with the development industry and other key stakeholders and follows the relevant regulations and guidance.