Consultation with our community has identified that development pressures on our Parish, mainly due to the need for new housing, is considered to be an issue by our community. Housing is an issue which the Neighbourhood Plan could seek to address, through new planning policy designed to guide/shape new housing in our area.

To understand the issue further, the Steering Group have utilised grant funding available from central government to commission the preparation of a Housing Needs Assessment. This was completed in March 2021. It looks in detail at three areas:

• Tenure, affordability and the need for affordable housing
• Type and size of housing
• Specialist housing for older people

This document is now available to read in full at charthamnp.com.

A Working Group, made up of local volunteers, are currently exploring the best way to deal with housing in the Neighbourhood Plan Area and are expected to report their findings to the Steering Group imminently. Their recommendations will be published in due course.

Once their recommendations are received, the Steering Group will consider the best way to incorporate housing issues into the Neighbourhood Plan.

If you have any questions, or would like to know more about the Chartham Neighbourhood Plan please visit charthamnp.com or contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 01227 738 110.