Wye Village Design Statement

In 2016 Ashford Borough Council adopted the Wye Neighbourhood Development Plan as part of its borough Development Plan. The Wye Neighbourhood Plan incorporated the design principles and guidance within Wye Village Design Statement (VDS) as an appendix. Consequently, although the VDS is no longer adopted as a standalone supplementary planning guidance (SPG) document in its own right, the guidance it contains (pages 19 to 21) now carries much more weight in planning terms as part of the Development Plan than the original VDS did in 2000. The illustrated version of the VDS provides a descriptive context for Wye and it is free to download below.

The Wye Neighbourhood Plan (WNP) aims to shape and influence development within the parish with a set of tailored planning policies. Ashford Borough Council adopted the WNP in 2016 as part of its Borough Development Plan. The WNP document is now subject to a review.

As part of the Wye Neighbourhood Plan Review (WNPR) process the Parish Council appointed specialist consultants from AECOM to prepare a Design Code, funded by a grant from Locality.

The purpose of the Design Code is to provide a professional analysis of the different character areas within the parish, and formulate a set of clear design codes which will apply to any future housing development. The project aims to ensure that new development will respond appropriately to its context, and enhance local character, in particular ithe Wye Conservation Area, and its setting in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Design Code will update and expand on the original guidance provided in the Wye Village Design Statement.