Regulation 19 Public Consultation – How to Object

07 / 11 / 21

Final Public Consultation on Local Plan Review – 29 October to 12 December 2021

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is currently conducting its Local Plan Review Regulation 19 consultation. This is the final consultation before their proposed Plan is submitted to the Government’s independent Planning Inspector for examination. The plan sets out how much development is needed, where it should be built and what supporting infrastructure such as roads, schools and health centres should be provided. Heathlands is one of two ‘garden settlements’ proposed in this plan. The other one is Lidsing.

The Regulation 19 public consultation on the Local Plan review started on 29 October and finishes at 5pm on 12 December.  This final consultation is very specific in its ask. It is seeking ‘representations’ on soundness and legal compliance of the proposed plan as required by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

This is a critical time, and we need every resident to write to the Council in response to this public consultation and let them know that this proposal is not right for this area.

Maidstone Borough Council’s Garden Community proposal fails to meet all the national planning policy requirements and will come under intense scrutiny by the Planning Inspector. We need to demonstrate that this proposal is not acceptable to the local community.

Make your voice count.  This is not a done deal. By standing together as one united rural community we can defeat this proposal.

Here we have put together a guide to help you when drafting your letter/email to the Council.

 

General tips

  • Write to the council and in your own words tell them what you really dislike about this proposed scheme.
  • You must include your full name and address.
  • It is important that your representation specifically mentions whether you consider the proposed Local Plan to be found sound and/or legally compliant.
  • We have set out in our objection guide how you can address these two planning-specific points. Without this, your representation will not be shown to the independent Planning Inspector.
  • Try not to make your response too personal. We know that’s difficult, but the Planning Inspector wants to hear strong reasoned arguments about why you think the plan should be found unsound.
  • Make sure your neighbours, friends, family and relatives know about this public consultation and encourage them to respond to the consultation.

We need as many people as possible to write to the council with their objections, to demonstrate the weight of public opinion against this scheme.

Background reading

Before writing your letter, you might want to do a little research about the proposal.

  • You can read the Council’s third masterplan for Heathlands here
  • The proposed Submission Local Plan document and Sustainability Appraisal, along with the Local Plan Review evidence base and other information can be viewed and downloaded from the council’s website: https://localplan.maidstone.gov.uk/home/local-plan-review

Objection Guide & Template Letter
We have prepared this guide to assist you in responding to what is a fairly complex planning consultation. It is important that your objection addresses key points. Objections that are just about your view of the Heathlands proposal are likely to be refused.

Download a template letter that you can adapt for your response to the Council’s Regulation 19 public consultation.

Where to send your response to the public consultation

Please send a copy of your response to saveourheathlands@gmail.com
This is so we can submit them as part of our evidence to the Planning Inspector.