HARTLEY NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

INTRODUCTION TO THIS QUESTIONNAIRE
The Hartley Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group was established by Hartley Parish Council in 2021 and has been talking to residents and businesses in the Parish over the last four years, asking what they think about Hartley now and how they would like to see Hartley in the future. This has helped us put together a Draft Neighbourhood Plan for Hartley Parish and we would now like to know what you think via this Questionnaire.

We are now undertaking a six week Pre-Submission Consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan. This Consultation takes place between 20th April and 31st May 2026.

In order to complete this Questionnaire, please read the Draft Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan) in full which can be accessed online at the Hartley Parish Council's Neighbourhood Plan website (www.hartleynp.org.uk). If you are unable to read the document in full, the Vision and Policies of the Plan are summarised within this Questionnaire. Copies of the full Plan will also be available at our community exhibitions on:

· Thursday 7th May between 5pm and 9pm

· Saturday 9th May between 10am and 2pm

at the Church Centre in Ash Road. Where possible, please take the time to read through the full Plan carefully.

The Draft Plan has been shaped by the views of residents and brings together the results of our community engagement drop-ins, resident questionnaires, business survey, housing needs survey and other evidence gathered by the Steering Group. All this information is available on our website. Comments can be made on any aspect of the Plan or other supporting documents.

The Steering Group will then carefully consider all comments received and, where appropriate, will make changes to the Plan in the light of them.

If you have any difficulty in completing the Questionnaire or would like help to fill it in, please contact the Parish Clerk by email at enquiries@hartleyparishcouncil.gov.uk or call 01474 709441.

Thank you for your support
Hartley Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

YOUR DETAILS
Please note: Your first and last names and comments are the only details that will be made public when the Neighbourhood Plan is submitted for examination as part of the Consultation Statement, as required by Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. Any other personal and contact details will not be shared publicly but will be stored in accordance with Hartley Parish Council's GDPR Policy.

Please note we cannot accept responses that are anonymous.

VISION FOR HARTLEY

The residents of Hartley seek to protect and enhance the natural environment and biodiversity in and around the Parish and to maintain its rural character, including protection of the Metropolitan Green Belt and to preserve the special views from the Parish across the surrounding valleys. They also seek to designate and protect the Local Green Spaces, and conserve the Heritage Assets, Community Assets, and Public Rights of Way. They also seek to support our businesses and local economy within the
Parish.

Where development is permitted, it should be small scale sustainable growth that is in line with the needs and wishes of the local community and must follow the Hartley Parish-Wide Design Guidelines and Codes 2023. Where appropriate, such development should incorporate suitable Affordable Housing primarily for the benefit of local residents.

The Hartley Neighbourhood Plan seeks to ensure that our residents are given every opportunity to contribute to the vitality of the community, have the opportunity to work, learn, and live in the community, and continue to live healthy, safe, and satisfying lives.

POLICY ENV1 – PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Priority will be given to protecting and enhancing the natural environment and biodiversity within the Parish and protecting the area from inappropriate developments.

Proposals for new development will only be supported if they comply with all of the following requirements:-

1. The proposed development does not visually intrude onto the undeveloped horizons and slopes in the valleys to the east and west of the Parish of Hartley and does not significantly harm Local Wildlife Sites, Natural Landscapes and the Local Nature Reserve.

2. The proposed development protects and, where possible, enhances the woodland areas within the Plan area and does not significantly harm the Local Ecological Network. Any development should not reduce the existing hedgerows and trees especially those protected by Tree Preservation Orders.

3. Proposals for external lighting should seek to minimise their effect on existing, established wildlife and biodiversity habitats and where ecological surveys and assessments indicate that it is required to protect species, this protection must be put in place.

4. The proposed development minimises the visual impact of built extensions, conversions or development on the surrounding landscape and natural environment.

5. Where possible, the proposed development should promote sustainable onsite soil management and minimise the import of sub-soil and top-soil and the export of ground materials.

6. Proposed new developments should provide a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in accordance with National Policy requirements, unless they are within categories of development that are exempt from providing BNG.

POLICY ENV2 – PROTECTION OF THE METROPOLITAN GREEN BELT

1. The Neighbourhood Plan seeks to protect the present Metropolitan Green Belt boundary around the built-up area of Hartley, so that the Metropolitan Green Belt is preserved for recreation, enjoyment, and the protection of farmland and woodlands.

2. Proposals for development in the designated Metropolitan Green Belt within the Plan area, on sites that do not constitute potential ‘Grey Belt’ land, will only be supported where they fulfil the policy test of demonstrating the very special circumstances that justify the proposals, and where they comply with Policy HBE4 (Hartley Parish-Wide Design Guidelines and Codes). Extensions to existing buildings in the Metropolitan Green Belt will be supported where they are proportionate in size and scale to the existing building and also comply with the requirements of Policy HBE4.

3. Development proposals within the Plan area that are on sites categorised as being ‘Grey Belt’ will be assessed for their impacts upon the Parish of Hartley and upon the character and qualities of the landscape and the natural and historic environment within the area. Such proposals will not be supported where it is clear that the proposals would lead to adverse impacts that could not be mitigated.

POLICY ENV3 – PROTECTION OF THE SPECIAL VIEWS IN THE PARISH

Priority will be given to protecting and enhancing the visually rural and predominantly undeveloped landscapes from inappropriate development in the three locations referred to in this Policy. Map 8 mentioned in this policy and photographs detailing these three areas can be accessed on the Hartley Neighbourhood Plan website (www.hartleynp.org.uk).

Proposals for development will be assessed and only supported where it would:

1. take account of the Hartley Parish Landscape Character Assessment, which is a supporting document to this Plan, and ensure that the proposed development reflects the local character of the area in which the site is situated.

2. respect the landscape qualities of Hartley Bottom Valley, the Hartley Plateau and Fawkham Valley as set out and shown on Map 8.

3. where applicable, ensure that development does not intrude onto the undeveloped horizons of Hartley Bottom Valley or Fawkham Valley.

4. where applicable, protect and enhance the distinctive pattern of woodland on high ground and along the upper valley sides.

5. retain and enhance existing hedgerows as landscape features.

6. minimise the visual impact of conversions or redevelopment so that they do not have a materially greater impact on the landscape than the current development

7. protect and not adversely impact the distinctive views of the surrounding countryside from public vantage points and in particular the special views of Hartley Bottom Valley, Fawkham Valley and Hartley Plateau that are defined on Map 8 and described in the supporting text to this Policy.

Any development proposals having a negative impact on the local landscape character will not be supported.

POLICY ENV4 – PROTECTION OF LOCAL GREEN SPACES

22 locations in the Parish are designated as Local Green Spaces as they all have a special significance to Hartley residents and in all cases:

1. The green space is in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves and within walking distance of the local community, and

2. The green space is demonstrably special to the local community and holds a particular local significance, and

3. The green space concerned is local in character and is not an extensive tract of land

Each of the Local Green Spaces is described with a photograph and map in Appendix 1 to the Plan.

Any development proposed in any of the 22 designated Local Green Spaces defined in Appendix 1 of the Plan will be protected in accordance with National Policy for Green Belts

POLICY ENV5 – CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF HERITAGE ASSETS

Map 10 mentioned in this policy can be accessed on the Hartley Neighbourhood Plan website (www.hartleynp.org.uk).

1. Development proposals should seek to protect and, where appropriate, enhance, the settings of the Listed Building Assets within the Plan area. Development proposals which affect a Listed Building should outline the historical significance and local importance of the asset to the character and appearance of Hartley and should clearly assess the impacts of the proposed development on the Listed Building and its settings.

2. Development proposals within an Archaeological Notification Area or suspected area of archaeological importance, including those identified on Map 10, which has the potential to affect archaeological assets may require an archaeological assessment to understand the potential impact on archaeological remains.

3. Preservation in situ will be expected unless clear justification is provided to demonstrate that the recording of remains, assessment, analysis report and deposition of archive is appropriate.

4. Whenever practicable, opportunities should be taken for the enhancement and interpretation of archaeological remains.

5. Developers will be required to record any Heritage Assets to be lost (wholly or in part) in a manner proportionate to their significance and the potential impact of the proposals, and to make this evidence (and any archive generated) publicly accessible. This includes the recording of historic buildings where features will be lost through alteration or demolition.

POLICY ENV6 – PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY

The provision, character, and biodiversity of existing Public Rights of Way (as shown on Map 11 “Public Rights of Way” and which can be viewed on the Hartley Neighbourhood Plan website (www.hartleynp.org.uk)) will be protected and enhanced, including within new developments. New development should incorporate and enhance the intrinsic character and biodiversity of existing Public Rights of Way. Where appropriate, developer contributions will be sought linked to planning permissions granted for new developments in the Plan area in order to secure off-site improvements to the Public Rights of Way network in the vicinity of new developments.

POLICY ENV7 – GROUNDWATER SOURCE PROTECTION ZONE

The Parish of Hartley is a Groundwater Source Protection Zone as shown on Map 12 “Groundwater Source Protection Zone” which can be viewed on the Hartley Neighbourhood Plan website (www.hartleynp.org.uk) and is subject to the following Policies:

1. All new developments must comply with the groundwater and drainage requirements set out by the Environment Agency.

2. No new developments will be supported that unacceptably impacts the quality of drinking water in the Parish.

3. All new developments must provide attenuated storage of surface water run-off to prevent infiltration and contamination, unless it can be evidenced that the development would not result in contamination.

4. All new developments that propose non-mains drainage comply with the Environment Agency regulations and permit requirements.

5. No new development will be supported where foul water discharges to ground.

POLICY HBE1 – SETTLEMENT BOUNDARY

To maintain the present Settlement Boundary of Hartley.

Development proposals will only be supported within the Settlement Boundary where they comply with other relevant Policies in this Plan.

Development proposals on land outside of the Settlement Boundary and within the designated Metropolitan Green Belt, will not be supported unless they comply with other policies in this Plan and local and national strategic policies regarding appropriate developments within the Metropolitan Green Belt.

In all cases, approved development proposals must comply with Policy HBE4 (Hartley Parish-Wide Design Guidelines and Codes).

POLICY HBE2 – HOUSING NEEDS IN HARTLEY

Any new residential development within the Hartley Settlement Boundary as identified in the Hartley Housing Needs Survey 2024 should provide a mix of housing types to meet local needs, having regard to the character of the existing houses nearby.

Developments must comply with the Hartley Parish-Wide Design Guidelines and Codes contained in Policy HBE4.

POLICY HBE3 – AFFORDABLE HOUSING

1) Affordable Housing for local people must be an integral part of any development of 10 units or more and should be visually indistinguishable from other housing on the site.

2) In exceptional circumstances, when Affordable Housing on the site cannot be provided, a commuted sum must be paid by the developer.

3) Subject to Sevenoaks District Council’s approval of a site-specific Local Lettings and Sales Plan, eligible applicants with a proven local connection to the Parish may be given priority.

POLICY HBE4 – HARTLEY PARISH-WIDE DESIGN GUIDELINES AND CODES

Proposals for new buildings in the Hartley Plan area, including new or replacement dwellings or extensions to existing buildings, will only be supported where they meet the requirements of the Hartley Parish-Wide Design Guidelines and Codes (2023) as set out in Appendix 6 of the Plan. The latter can be viewed on the Hartley Neighbourhood Plan website www.hartleynp.org.uk

POLICY CA1 – RETENTION OF COMMUNITY ASSETS

Development proposals that would lead to the loss of Community Assets (as listed in Appendix 4 of the Plan which can be viewed on the Hartley Neighbourhood Plan website www.hartleynp.org.uk) will not be supported unless it can be demonstrated that:

1) There is no longer any need or demand for the existing Community Asset, or

2) The existing Community Asset is demonstrably no longer economically viable or able to be supported by the community.

Any development proposals make alternative provision for the relocation of the existing Community Asset to an equally and/or more appropriate and accessible site within the Plan area, and which also complies with the other Policies in this Plan.

POLICY B1 – SUPPORT FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Development proposals that would involve the loss of existing business premises and sites within the Plan area, including those falling within Class E of the Uses Classes Order 1987 (as amended), will only be supported where it can be demonstrated that:

1) The premises or site have not been in active use for at least 12 months

2) The premises or site have no potential for reoccupation or redevelopment for employment-related uses. This can be shown by proof of a valuation and viability report and that a marketing exercise has taken place for a continuous period of at least six months.

The Plan recognises the benefits of home working within the Parish which promotes locally based employment, supports local services, and reduces traffic movements.