Work officially begins on new Ashford Local Plan

Ashford Borough Council has officially passed Gateway 1, the first self-assessment stage in the new Local Plan process.

Passing Gateway 1 confirms that the council is ready to commence work and starts the 30-month period for preparing the plan, which will be known as the Ashford Local Plan 2044.

The Local Plan will help shape the places where people live, work and socialise. It will address the borough’s needs for housing and employment and set planning policies covering community facilities and infrastructure, the natural and historic environment, climate change adaptation and well-designed places.

The council published a Notice of Intention to Commence Local Plan preparation in June 2026. Four months later, it has completed the Gateway 1 self-assessment.

The Local Plan timetable has also been updated to reflect the May 2027 local elections and the associated pre-election period. The revised timetable also allows sufficient time to review and respond to comments received during the scoping consultation held in September 2026.

The next consultation will take place from January to March 2027. A further consultation on the proposed Local Plan is planned for 2028, ahead of adoption in March 2029.

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.”

More information is available on the council’s emerging Local Plan web pages.