Neighbourhood planning, which was introduced in the 2011 Localism Act, has the potential to significantly affect the location and appearance of future development across the High Weald AONB.

The neighbourhood plan process is therefore an important opportunity for residents to influence development in a way that meets the AONB Management Plan objectives. Neighbourhood plans also provide an opportunity for communities to learn more about and connect with their places; appreciating how they have evolved over time and how they can grow in a sustainable way that conserves and enhances the character of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

More on the role of the AONB Management Plan  

Data and guidance

To assist neighbourhood planning processes we have produced:

• guidance on how to consider the AONB in a Neighbourhood Plan. This includes an introduction to the neighbourhood planning process and the landscape of the High Weald AONB and sources of data and evidence relating to the AONB (including High Weald landscape character data that links to objectives in the Management Plan).  pdf High Weald AONB Neighbourhood Plan Guidance (1.16 MB)
  
  
• maps for each of the area's 99 parishes with information on the extent of the components that make up the area's landscape character: sandstone outcrops, ponds, rivers, wildflower meadows, heathland, historic field boundaries, historic routeways, historic settlement boundaries, historic farmsteads, and ancient woodland. 
  
  
• a summary of what the data shows and how it was created (metadata) to help with the interpretation and understanding of the mapped data.

For East Sussex communities producing neighbourhood plans, the County Archaeology team can produce an information pack highlighting the areas of archaeological and historic interest. This pack will include information on non-designated and designated local, regional and national heritage assets, as well as the Archaeological Notification Areas. There is a charge for this service. For further information, contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Talks

We are also happy to come and talk to groups which are in the early stages of neighbourhood planning about the information and advice we can provide to help them. An example of the sort of presentation we can give is below. We can provide follow-up advice on:

• The High Weald character components within your parish

• The impact of potential sites on the AONB and any mitigation necessary

• Advice on policy wording to protect the AONB

Contact our Planning Advisor on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Downloads

The Neighbourhood Planning Guidance, the Character Component Maps and the Character Component Metadata 
The High Weald AONB Management Plan

pdf Benenden Neighbourhood Plan - Example Presentation (2.00 MB)

Neighbourhood plan contacts

For details of which parishes are developing neighbourhood plans in your area, or if your town or parish council would like to develop one, contact:

Rother District Council - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Crawley Borough Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wealden District Council - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Horsham District Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sevenoaks District Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tandridge District Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hastings Borough Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ashford Borough Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mid-Sussex District Council  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

More information: 

A Planner's Guide to Community-led Housing (includes advice on how to word policies to support community-led housing), via Community First Yorkshire.

East Sussex's Archaeological Notification Areas (ANAs)