Neighbourhood planning was introduced through the Localism Act (2011), and the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations (2012).
It enables local communities to shape development and growth in their area through the production of one of the following:
- a Neighbourhood Development Plan (neighbourhood plan or NDP)
- a Neighbourhood Development Order (NDO)
- a Community Right-to-build Order (CRO)
To produce one of these, a qualifying body (either the town/parish council or a Neighbourhood Forum) must first apply to us to have their parish or area 'designated'.
Once designated, the qualifying body can then prepare and produce a neighbourhood plan. This plan must be in general conformity with the strategic objectives of the adopted Local Plan. They cannot be used to prevent development. Early engagement with us is encouraged to help make the plan as effective as possible, while ensuring compliance.
The draft plan must undergo public consultation and be approved by referendum before it can be adopted or 'made' by us. It then becomes part of the statutory development plan and is a material consideration when considering planning applications in that parish or designated area.
Our 2025 Statement of Community Involvement provides more information about how we can help with the preparation of a neighbourhood plan.
You can read this in full below.
- Statement of Community Involvement 2025 (opens in new tab)pdf file[974KB]
Adopted neighbourhood plans
The Ash Neighbourhood Development Plan was adopted in September 2021 and was made part of our Development Plan on 15 September 2021. This followed a successful Referendum on 22 July 2021.
It will be used alongside the adopted planning documents when making decisions about planning applications in the neighbourhood area.
The adopted plan can be viewed below.
- Ash Neighbourhood Plan Sept 2021 (opens in new tab)pdf file[3.2MB]
Ash Neighbourhood Plan referendum
Following revisions to the Ash Neighbourhood Plan that incorporated the examiners' recommended modifications, we issued our decision to send the plan to referendum on the 8 June 2021.
- Decision notice (opens in new tab)
- Referendum version of the plan (opens in new tab)
- Ash Parish Council letter (opens in new tab)
- General information statement (opens in new tab)
- Referendum Information Statement (opens in new tab)
Ash Neighbourhood Plan examination
The Ash Neighbourhood Plan was considered through the examination written representations procedure from February to April 2021, by an independent examiner appointed by us, in agreement with the Ash Neighbourhood Plan group. The examiners' report was published on 5 May 2021 and concluded that subject to the modifications set out in the report, the Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions and recommended that the plan, once modified, proceed to referendum.
Examination correspondence between the neighbourhood plan examiner and Ash Neighbourhood Plan group.
- Examiner procedural matters and questions Ash NDP (opens in new tab)
- Ash NDP final policies November 2020 reply to examiner version 2 February 2021 (opens in new tab)
- Table of changes examiner requests February 2021 (opens in new tab)
- Words on nutrient neutrality (opens in new tab)
Ash Neighbourhood Plan Regulation 16
The Ash Neighbourhood Plan underwent its pre-examination Regulation 16 consultation from 1 December 2020 to 15 January 2021. The Ash Neighbourhood Area was designated in February 2013. The documents consulted upon were:
- Ash NDP submission plan (opens in new tab)
- Ash NDP basic conditions statement (opens in new tab)
- Ash NDP consultation statement (opens in new tab)
- Ash NDP habitats regulations assessment (opens in new tab)
- Ash NDP strategic environmental assessment (opens in new tab)
Representations made to the Regulation 16 consultation:
Representations can also be viewed via the consultation portal.
See more information on the Ash Parish Council website below.
The Worth Neighbourhood Plan was made part of our Development Plan on the 28 January 2015, following a neighbourhood planning referendum on the 6 November 2014.
It will be used alongside the adopted planning documents when making decisions about planning applications in the neighbourhood area.
On 26 March 2025, Worth Parish Council formally agreed to create a committee to revise/update the Worth Neighbourhood Plan.
The adopted plan can be viewed below.
- Worth Neighbourhood Plan (opens in new tab)pdf file[5.63MB]
Key documents
- District council's decision statement (opens in new tab)
- Basic conditions statement (opens in new tab)
- Consultation statement (opens in new tab)
- Reference documents (opens in new tab)
- Submission annex (opens in new tab)
- Policies map (opens in new tab)
See more information on the Worth Parish Council website below.
The Langdon Neighbourhood Development Plan (2023-2040) was made part of our Development Plan on the 4 March 2026, following a successful referendum on 19 February 2026. It will be used as a material consideration alongside the adopted planning documents when making decisions about planning applications in the parish of Langdon.
The adopted plan can be viewed below.
- Langdon Neighbourhood Plan (opens in new tab)pdf file[10.5MB]
Key documents
- Decision statement (opens in new tab)
- Map showing neighbourhood area in Langdon (opens in new tab)
- Langdon Parish Council website (opens in new tab)
- Langdon Design Guide - Parts 1-2 (opens in new tab)
- Langdon Design Guide - Part 3 (opens in new tab)
- Langdon Design Guide - Parts 4-5 (opens in new tab)
Langdon Neighbourhood Plan referendum
A referendum on the Langdon Neigbourhood Development Plan was held on 19 February 2026.
The referendum version of the Neighbourhood Plan, and the Langdon Design Guide, which included modifications recommended by the independent examiner, can be found below.
Langdon Neighbourhood Plan examination
We have a duty to respond to the examiner's report and the proposed modifications in a formal 'decision statement', to indicate whether we agree to the examiner's recommendations and if the plan will progress to referendum.
The Regulation 18 decision statement (opens in new tab) was agreed at the full council meeting on 1 December 2025 and sets out our response to each of the recommendations contained within the examiner's report. It confirmed that, subject to the recommended modifications, the plan could progress to referendum.
An independent examiner was appointed to conduct the examination into the Langdon Neighbourhood Development Plan 2023-2040.
During the examination the examiner wrote to Langdon Parish Council and Dover District Council clarifying initial procedural matters and requesting written responses to two questions. These relate to Groundwater Source Protection Zones (SPZs) and Non-Designated Heritage Assets matters that were raised during public consultations.
- See copy of the letter from the independent examiner (opens in new tab)
- Langdon Parish Council’s written response to the two questions (opens in new tab)
- Langdon Neighbourhood Plan Summary of Regulation 16 Consultation Responses (opens in new tab)
Langdon Neighbourhood Plan Regulation 16 consultation
Public consultation was held from 23 June 2025 until 4 August 2025. The draft Langdon Neighbourhood Development Plan set out the community’s vision on how the villages and wider parish would develop in the future. The plan contained policies and guidance that the community is proposing to be used in the determination of planning applications. All comments received are public and comments received after this date were not taken into account.
Main documents
1. Langdon Neighbourhood Development plan submission version May 2025 (opens in new tab)
2a. Langdon Design Guide final copy parts 1-2 (opens in new tab)
2b. Langdon Design Guide final copy Part 3 (opens in new tab)
2c. Langdon Design Guide final copy Parts 4-5 (opens in new tab)
Supporting documents
3. Langdon Neighbourhood Plan consultation statement (opens in new tab)
4. Langdon Neighbourhood Plan basic conditions statement (opens in new tab)
5. Final SEA - HRA Screening Report Langdon NDP (opens in new tab)
6. Langdon HNA report (opens in new tab)
7. Langdon NDP Housing Needs Report March 2024 (opens in new tab)
8. List of evidence documents referenced in the Langdon Neighbourhood Plan (opens in new tab)
9. Map of the Langdon Neighbourhood Area (opens in new tab)
Further information
- Neighbourhood Development Plan DDC public consultation Regulation 16 | Langdon Parish Council (opens in new tab)
- Consultation home - Keystone (opens in new tab)
Following the consultation, responses were also received from:
- Dover District Council (DDC) (opens in new tab) (Officer comment)
- DDC planning policy team (opens in new tab) (Reg 16 officer assessment)
- Environment Agency (opens in new tab)
- Historic England (opens in new tab) and Historic England's Reg14 rep (opens in new tab)
- Southern Water (opens in new tab)
- Natural England (opens in new tab)
- Langdon resident (opens in new tab)
See more information on the Langdon Parish Council website (opens in new tab)
Other designated areas
The Aylesham Neighbourhood Area was designated on 12 August 2024.
The Dover Town Neighbourhood Area was designated on 2 August 2018.
- Dover Town Neighbourhood Area (opens in new tab)pdf file[2.42MB]
Dover Town Council is currently producing a neighbourhood plan. This page will be updated as the plan progresses.
The Ringwould with Kingsdown Neighbourhood Area was designated on 21 December 2023.
- Ringwould with Kingsdown designation report (opens in new tab)pdf file[377KB]
Ringwould with Kingsdown Parish Council is currently in the early stages of producing its neighbourhood plan and this page will be updated as the plan progresses.
The Sandwich Neighbourhood Area was designated on 8 July 2013.
The initial application by Sandwich Town Council to designate the whole of the town council's parish as a Neighbourhood Area was refused and another Neighbourhood Area was designated instead.
The reasons for this decision are set out below:
Sandwich Town Council is currently in the early stages of producing its neighbourhood plan and this page will be updated as the plan progresses.
The Neighbourhood Area for Shepherdswell with Coldred was designated in October 2014.
- Shepherdswell with Coldred Neighbourhood Area (opens in new tab)pdf file[1.6MB]
A neighbourhood plan is not currently being progressed for this area, following a decision by the parish council at a meeting in September 2015.
The Neighbourhood Area for St Margaret's at Cliffe was designated in January 2013.
St Margaret's at Cliffe Parish Council is currently in the early stages of producing its neighbourhood plan and this page will be updated as the plan progresses.
Further information
- Historic England - neighbourhood planning and the historic environment guidance (opens in new tab)
- Royal Town Planning Institute - neighbourhood planning guidance (opens in new tab)
- Centre for Sustainable Energy - neighbourhood planning in a climate emergency (opens in new tab)
- Locality - neighbourhood planning process guidance (opens in new tab)
Contact us
Email: planningpolicy@dover.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
Phone: 01304 872 244
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