Ashford Borough Council Launches Local Plan Consultation

Ashford Borough Council is preparing a new Local Plan for the borough and will soon be inviting local communities to get involved in the process. The council will be consulting on a draft version of the Plan, known as a Regulation 18, for eight weeks from Monday 18 August to Monday 13 October 2025. The consultation will be live on the council’s website on 18 August, and a series of public events are planned for September and October.

A Local Plan provides the opportunity to shape the places that we live, work and socialise. It addresses housing and employment needs and provides a series of planning policies covering many other topics such as community facilities and infrastructure, the natural and historic environment, adapting to climate change and achieving well designed places.

Although the general principle of the plan is to encourage growth within the economy of Ashford and plan housing delivery, the Local Plan will also seek to protect Ashford’s valued assets including our landscapes, heritage, and open spaces for leisure and nature. Once adopted, the policies within a Local Plan are used as the starting point to decide planning applications for future development.

Visit Ashford Borough Council for more information.