A to Z of Services

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 
  Home > Planning and Building Control > Planning Now and in the Future (Policy) > Chilmington Green & Discovery Park Area Action Plan

Chilmington Green & Discovery Park Area Action Plan

Background

The Chilmington Green & Discovery Park Area Action Plan (AAP) document forms part of Ashford’s Local Development Framework. The AAP will set out the key strategic development and design principles for the site and the policies and parameters for land use, density, building heights and the overall quantum of development. Chilmington Green is identified in ABC 's Core Strategy (policy CS5) as an urban extension site which should be planned to accommodate no less than 3,350 dwellings and 600 jobs by 2020, with the potential for up to 7,000 dwellings and 1,000 jobs in total.

 

This site therefore presents a significant opportunity to bring forward a sustainable new community within easy access of Ashford town centre and the new High-Speed services to central London. A key part of the AAP process will be the production of a masterplan for the development of the area, to which development proposals will be expected to accord.

 

Why is development happening at Chilmington Green?

 

The principle of development at Chilmington Green is established in Ashford Borough Council’s Core Strategy. The Core Strategy was ‘adopted’ in 2008 following the production of a wide range of evidence which set out where growth could be accommodated within the borough, a period of public consultation and a formal ‘Examination in Public’ of the Core Strategy by an independent, government appointed planning Inspector. You can find the Core Strategy on our website at:

http://www.ashford.gov.uk/planning_and_building_control/planning_now_and_in_the_future/core_strategy_2008.aspx

 

The change in government in May 2010 has lead to the removal of centrally designated housing targets, but the principle of development at Chilmington Green remains established in the Core Strategy. The focus now is to plan for the creation of a great place to live. This will involve looking very closely at the density, design and layout of development, types of land uses and the best range of local facilities that can be achieved.

 

How will Chilmington Green be planned?

 

A key part of the Area Action Plan process is the production of a masterplan for the development of the area. The masterplan will be included in the Area Action Plan. Planning applications and policies submitted for development at Chilmington Green will need to be in accordance with the policies and principles set out in the Area Action Plan. 

An ‘Examination in Public’ by an independent planning Inspector will be held in 2012 to assess the Area Action Plan, and an outline planning application for the Chilmington Green site will be submitted to the Borough Council by the development team during 2012.

 

Where exactly will the Chilmington Green urban extension be?

 

The broad area for development is defined by Long Length to the east, and the Ashford Road/A28 to the west. The northern boundary borders the Chilmington gypsy and traveller site and the KCC closed landfill site. The southern boundary will lie south of Chilmington Green Road, but the exact boundary will be defined through the masterplanning process.

 

What type of facilities will be at Chilmington Green?

 

New development at Chilmington Green is being planned as a sustainable new community, with the type of day to day facilities which will help the community to become a successful, thriving place. It will include Discovery Park, a new park serving Chilmington Green and surrounding communities which is likely to include a range of facilities, such as sports pitches, a pavilion, an area for outdoor events, and more natural areas to attract and support wildlife. Landscape architects Gillespies were commissioned to examine how these uses could be laid out in Discovery Park. Click on the link below to find out more:

 

As well as new homes, the new community will also have a High Street with a range of local shops and business premises, 3 - 4 primary schools, a new secondary school, medical facilities, a dedicated bus link to Ashford town centre and a ‘community hub’ building which offers a range of services. The new community will also include sustainable energy technologies to help generate energy on-site.

 

What is the current timetable for the Area Action Plan?

The key milestones and approximate timings for the masterplanning and AAP process are:

  • Publication of AAP for 6 week public consultation: early 2012
  • Submission of the AAP to Secretary of State: Spring 2012
  • Examination in Public (Assessment of the plan by an independent Inspector): mid 2012
  • Adoption of AAP by ABC: by Autumn 2012

 

A full technical team, appointed by the developers, consisting of masterplanners, landscape architects, urban designers, ecologists, heritage and archaeology specialists, utilities and sustainability specialists and transport planners, are progressing with the comprehensive masterplanning the site area. Currently, transport modelling work is assessing the impact of the development on the A28 and surrounding road network in order to help define the amount and extent of development to be brought forward at Chilmington Green. Other considerations will include landscape and visual impact, ecology, drainage, etc. Overall, these factors will determine the amount of development, and hence the defined boundaries and proposed phasing of the development over the next 20 years.

 

How can I find out more?

Update: Public Exhibition – 27th September 2011

 

The Chilmington Green development consortium and their consultant team have organised a public exhibition of the emerging proposals for Chilmington Green on Tuesday 27 September 2011 from 3.00pm to 8.00pm at the Singleton Environment Centre, Wesley School Road, (near Cuckoo Lane), Singleton, Ashford, TN23 5LW.  More information is available on the developers’ website: http://www.chilmington-green.co.uk/

 

What other consultation has occurred on the Chilmington Green Urban Extension?

A series of consultation events have been carried out with stakeholders and residents. Consultation events were carried out with key stakeholders during 2007 which led to the production of a Chilmington Green Issues and Options Paper. The Issues Paper was not subject to a formal public consultation process but outlines all the issues which were raised through the stakeholder consultation events.

 

An independently facilitated stakeholder workshop was held at the Singleton Environment Centre on in September 2008.  Over 40 attendees took part in the workshop.

 

In February 2009, an independently facilitated two day design workshop was held. The purpose was to reflect collectively on the key issues from the previous workshop of 30th September 2008 and further developing the  key principles for Chilmington Green. Around 80 delegates participated in the workshops.

 

A stakeholder workshop to present the emerging masterplan options was held on 22nd July 2010 . This was attended by over 70 people, including service providers, KCC and ABC officers, and some local residents. The workshop report can be downloaded below:

 

Chilmington Green Reports and Presentations

Sustainability Appraisal

 

In conjunction with the preparation of the AAP, a Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report has been produced which assesses the economic, social and environmental constraints of the proposed urban extension.

 

Sustainable Energy

 

Arup have been commissioned by Ashford's Future to develop a business case and seek practical solutions for sustainable energy generation at the Chilmington Green urban extension to meet Ashford Core Strategy Policy CS10.

 

Public Transport

 

The Core Strategy states that the urban extensions should provide a quality, high frequency public transport system to ensure that increasing numbers of residents are attracted to public transport. The location, mix and density of new development to create a viable and efficient public transport service will thus be a key consideration within the masterplanning process. A park-and-ride facility is also proposed on the A28 which will be subject to further viability testing.

Contact Details

For further information on the Chilmington Green & Discovery Park Area Action Plan, please contact Daniel Carter on 01233 330213 or email the Policy Team.

This webpage was updated on 9/27/2011

 

Ashford Borough Council, Civic Centre
Tannery Lane, Ashford TN23 1PL
Telephone: 01233 331111
Email: customer.care@ashford.gov.uk or view our contact us page.
Ashford Borough Council Ashford, Best Placed in Britain

More about advertising on our site ...