The Kent Downs National Landscape Partnership (which includes all the local authorities within the National Landscape) has agreed to have a limited land use planning role. In summary this is to:
- Comment on planning policy issues-for instance Local Plans.
- Involvement in development management (planning applications) only in exceptional circumstances, such as in terms of scale, precedence and cumulative effect.
- To provide advice and comments on development management (planning applications) at the request of a Kent Downs National Landscape Joint Advisory member and /or Local Authority Planning Officer. These comments can take the form of support with guidance on mitigation, or objection with reasons.
- Provide guidance and training on the National Landscape Management Plan, and the supporting guidance and position statements, to LPAs, Parish Councils, Community groups, consultants, developers and landowners.
The National Landscape team only responds to planning application consultations when requested in accordance with the agreed protocol and the comments of the AONB relate only to the impact of the application or the policy on the components of natural beauty as set out in the Management Plan, and not all planning issues.