Passing Gateway 1 starts a 30-month period to prepare the Ashford Local Plan 2044, with adoption planned for March 2029.
Ashford Borough Council has formally started work on a new Local Plan after passing Gateway 1, the first self-assessment stage in the new planning process. The next public consultation runs from January to March 2027.
What the plan will cover
The Ashford Local Plan 2044 will set out a vision and planning framework for the future development of the borough, covering housing and employment needs alongside planning policies for community facilities and infrastructure. It will also address the natural and historic environment, climate change adaptation and well-designed places.
The timetable
The council published a Notice of Intention to Commence Local Plan preparation in June 2026 and completed the Gateway 1 self-assessment four months later. Passing Gateway 1 starts a 30-month period for preparing the plan.
The timetable has been updated to account for the May 2027 local elections and the associated pre-election period, and to allow time to review responses from a scoping consultation held in September 2026. The next public consultation will run from January to March 2027. A further consultation on the proposed plan is planned for 2028, ahead of adoption in March 2029.
What the council says
Cllr Linda Harman, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development at Ashford Borough Council, said: “Passing Gateway 1 is an important step in shaping Ashford’s future. The new Local Plan will help us plan positively for homes, jobs, infrastructure and high-quality places, while protecting and enhancing the borough’s natural and historic environment. We look forward to hearing from residents and stakeholders during the next consultation.”
Sources
- Ashford Borough Council media release, Work officially begins on new Ashford Local Plan, 2 November 2026
- Ashford Borough Council: emerging Local Plan web pages
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