December 2017
We announced the appointment of a team of experts to help make sure that Otterpool Park delivers its potential as a garden town of the future.
The 17-strong Otterpool Park Place Panel will provide independent expert advice to the council and act as a 'critical friend' as plans for the Garden Town move ahead.
Place Panels are teams of experts appointed by a local authority to provide specialist advice and support to make sure that planning applications for large developments conform to best practice in' place shaping' by creating a great place to live, work and play for the people who live there now and in the future.
The Place Panel will start work early in the New Year by reviewing the framework masterplan for Otterpool Park. Full details of membership can be found in press release below.
Otterpool Park Place Panel Appointed (PDF, 59KB)
November 2017
Recognising the need to deliver new homes for its existing and future residents, Folkestone & Hythe District Council and Kent County Council (KCC) decided to put in a bid to the Government's Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF). The HIF is an opportunity to forward fund the necessary infrastructure to accelerate investment and diversify the house building market creating a new community at Otterpool Park.
We are pleased that KCC decided to prioritise Otterpool Park as an exceptional bid seeking almost £300 million funding for physical infrastructure necessary to de-risk and accelerate its delivery. The councils have been working closely together to prepare the bid, which is now being assessed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
In September 2017 we produced a draft Charter for Otterpool Park that set out in more detail our aspirations for this new garden town. Following public consultation and consideration by the Council's Cabinet, revisions have been made to the Charter which is now completed.
A Charter for Otterpool Park (PDF, 15.66KB)
We are also publishing the comments received on the draft.
Comments received on A Charter for Otterpool Park (PDF, 271KB)
October 2017
A report on the Community Engagement events carried out in June was published on the Otterpool Park website.
Stage 2 Community Engagement Report
Government announces £155,000 funding to support our work on the proposal for a new garden town at Otterpool Park, including preparing a masterplan that will guide its development over the coming 30 years and ensure all the right services and facilities are put in place.
September 2017
We have produced a draft Charter for Otterpool Park that sets out our aspirations for this new garden town. The document builds on the high level principles set out in the Expression of Interest submitted to Government in June 2016.
The draft Charter focuses on creating a place that is truly environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.
We welcome comments on the draft Charter which can be viewed at the link below.
A Charter for Otterpool Park - Consultation Draft (PDF, 3.22MB)
Comments should be received by 17 October 2017 at the latest so as to ensure they are considered by the Council.
June 2017
A Planning Performance Agreement has been agreed between Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Kent County Council, and Cozumel which sets out an efficient and transparent planning process for taking forward Otterpool Park. Further details can be found using the link below.
Major projects in the district
A further series of community engagement events were held from 22 to 24 June. The panels from the sessions, which provide information on some of the topics discussed, are now available to view on the Otterpool Park website.
Second Stage of Engagement on Otterpool Park
You can also view the presentation used at the events.
Otterpool Community Engagement Presentation
May 2017
A report on the Community Engagement events carried out in December was published on the Otterpool Park website.
Stage 1 Community Engagement Report
April 2017
The Stage 1 Feasibility and Capacity Study, prepared by Arcadis, was published on the Otterpool Park website. These studies will inform the design of the proposed garden town as the project moves forward to Stage 2 and the development of a Framework Masterplan, which will outline a suggested layout and design for Otterpool Park.
Arcadis Stage 1 Feasibility Report
The protocols for officers was updated. The protocol establishes a clear delineation between the two distinct roles that we have in relation to Otterpool Park - landowner and Local Planning Authority.
Otterpool Park - Officer Protocol - Version 2 (PDF, 113KB)
March 2017
To answer some of the questions asked by residents about Otterpool Park a booklet was delivered across the district.
A briefing note entitled 'Review of outcomes resulting from Department for Communities and Local Government funding 2016/17' was also produced as a report for central government.
Otterpool Park - your questions answered (6.61KB)
Review of outcomes resulting from DCLG funding 2016/17 (PDF, 102KB)