Vision for village earns approval

Neighbourhood plan details 14 years of development

Ashford council cabinet members have approved a neighbourhood plan which sets out the future vision for a village’s development.

Residents in Wye first appealed to the borough council in 2012 and have been working on creating the plan to give their community a say over planning in the village.

It is one of seven parishes in the borough where planning applications are then assessed against the neighbourhood plans.

Wye’s plan will run until 2030, and has been deemed sound by an independent examiner. It was put to a referendum last month, where of the 814 villagers to vote, 94.7% were in favour of adopting the plan. The turnout was 43.7%.

It followed previous concerns about the long-term future of the former Wye agricultural college and buildings around the village, after former landowner Imperial College abandoned plans to build thousands of homes and a science park.

Now new developer Telereal Trillium has taken over the sites and has submitted planning applications to restore old buildings back to houses, and has submitted plans to demolish the college’s former Wolfson House accommodation.

Cllr Mike Bennett, Ashford council’s portfolio holder responsible for planning, said: “We are pleased that Wye with Hinxhill Parish Council has embraced the process, setting an example to other parishes that have followed in their path.

“The fact that cabinet members have recommended that the full council adopts the plan is testament to the volume of work that has gone towards its development.

“This is not an easy undertaking and has involved much perseverance and a great deal of understanding of the remit the parish council had within the local plan and national planning policy.

“We encourage other parishes, which feel it may be right for them, to come forward and give their valuable input into the borough’s planning process.”

More information about neighbourhood plans and the parishes granted neighbourhood area status is at www.ashford.gov.uk/ neighbourhood-plans

One of the former Wye College buildings, in Churchfield Way

Cllr Mike Bennett