Invitation to comment on the Pre-Submission Version of the Hurst Green Parish Neighbourhood Plan

In accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), notice is given that a formal public consultation on the Pre-Submission Version of the Hurst Green Parish Neighbourhood Plan will run from 9am on Wednesday 27 July to 5pm on Saturday 17 September 2022.

About the draft plan

In 2017, Hurst Green Parish Council agreed to proceed with a Neighbourhood Plan. A steering group comprising local Councillors and volunteers from the community was set up to lead the project to develop the Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan.

The Neighbourhood Plan is a formal document that sets out planning and land-use policies relating to Hurst Green village and the wider parish. It sets out, in development terms, how land should be used within the parish, as well as planning policies to influence development proposals.

As ultimately it will form part of the development plan for Rother (sitting alongside the Local Plan) the Neighbourhood Plan must undergo a rigorous process, including 2 formal public consultations, an independent examination and finally a local referendum.

Once made the plan will be used by Rother District Council alongside the Local Plan policies to determine the outcome of planning applications within the parish of Hurst Green.

After several years of evidence gathering, public events and consultation the Parish Council is pleased to present you with the ‘Pre-submission draft of the Hurst Green Parish Neighbourhood Plan’, which we are now consulting on.

How to view the pre-submission draft neighbourhood plan

Please read the Pre-submission draft of the Hurst Green Parish Neighbourhood Plan, and then complete the consultation survey using one of the methods outlined below.

You can also view a printed version of the draft plan at various locations around the parish, including at Hurst Green Village Hall.

Supplementary Regulation 14 documents

The Pre-Submission Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan has been screened to determine if it is likely to have significant environmental impacts that would require it to be accompanied by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and/or Habitats Regulations Assessments. The screening determined that a Strategic Environmental Assessment should be prepared to support the Plan. It can be found here:

Further information about the draft plan can be accessed below: 

How to comment on the draft Neighbourhood Plan

You may submit your comments on the plan in the following ways:

  • Download the survey form, and return it by email or by post (see below).
  • Picking up and returning a printed copy of the survey form from Hurst Green Village Hall or from local businesses.
  • By email to: clerk@hurstgreen-pc.gov.uk
  • By post to: Hurst Green Parish Council, The Parish Office, Village Hall, Station Road, Hurst Green East Sussex, TN19 7PL

All responses must be received no later than 5pm on 17th September 2022.

Use of your personal data

The Council is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and will only use and store your personal data in line with the General Data Protection Regulations 2016 and the Data Protection Act 2018.

  • The Parish Council will process your details only in relation to the Neighbourhood Plan.
  • If you select to enable the Parish Council to do so, the Parish Council will share your contact details (name, address/email address) to Rother District Council so that they are able to contact you at Regulation 16 consultation stage.
  • Comments and representations cannot be treated in confidence. Regulation 22 and 35 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012, as amended, require copies of all representations to be made publicly available. The Council will also provide names and associated representations on its website but will not publish personal information such as telephone numbers, emails or private addresses. By submitting a representation you confirm that you agree to this and accept responsibility for your comments.

What will happen following the consultation?

Hurst Green Parish Council will consider and respond to the comments received from the community before submitting the Plan to Rother District Council, after which it will be subject to consideration by an independent examiner. 

If this is approved by the examiner, there will be a local community referendum on the Neighbourhood Development Plan. A majority vote in favour of the Plan will allow the Plan to be formally adopted. Thereafter, it must be taken into account by developers, planners and local authorities when making or considering new developments in our Parish.